The Senate minority bloc has called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to step down, accusing him of failing to lead the chamber after members of the majority skipped plenary sessions for two consecutive days.
In a statement titled “Solid Bloc 11: Alan Peter Cayetano Resign,” the minority said the Senate could not be allowed to stop functioning simply because its presiding officer refused to convene sessions.
The bloc described the majority’s absence from Monday and Tuesday’s plenary sessions as an “abandonment of responsibility,” a “dereliction of duty,” and a clear disregard of the rules governing the institution.
The minority cited Rule XIV, Section 41 of the Senate rules, which allows the Senate President to postpone a session only after consulting the majority leader and the minority leader. The group said the required consultation was not followed.
“That rule was violated. This is not merely a procedural lapse, it is a direct violation of the Rules of the Senate and a serious disrespect for the institution and the Filipino people,” the minority said.
It added that Cayetano “should resign” because he had shown he could no longer function as leader of the Senate.
The 11-member minority bloc was physically present at the plenary around 3 pm Tuesday and waited for Cayetano and members of the majority to attend the session. After more than an hour, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said they were informed by Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales that Cayetano had decided not to hold plenary proceedings.
Cayetano later said in a Facebook Live broadcast that there would be no plenary session on Tuesday, as there had been none on Monday, as part of the majority’s protest against what he called a “puppet Senate” allegedly being pushed by the minority.
He said the minority had previously walked out of a plenary session to block a vote on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s motion to amend the rules. Cayetano said the majority was now also using parliamentary rules to make its position known.
“They used the parliamentary tool of a walkout so the change in rules would not proceed. So now, the majority is also using the rules properly, morally and legally,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
He claimed the minority was attempting to control the Senate after all committees were declared vacant following the leadership change on May 11. Cayetano alleged that the minority intended to take committee chairmanships from the majority if at least one majority member failed to attend the session.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson urged Cayetano to report to work on June 3 to open the session and allow the Senate to adjourn sine die in accordance with the legislative calendar.
Lacson said that if Cayetano refuses to preside, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda may take over. If Legarda is unavailable, the majority leader or one of the deputy majority leaders may preside.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo also criticized Cayetano for addressing the issue on social media instead of appearing at the Senate.
“I challenge Alan Peter Cayetano, if you are brave, come here,” Tulfo said in Filipino. “What hurts is that instead of showing up here, SP Alan is showing up on Facebook. Speak here.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the minority was not blocking the Blue Ribbon Committee but insisted that the proper process must be followed by formally constituting the panel first.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino urged Cayetano and the majority to return to work so all issues could be taken up in plenary, while Pangilinan accused the majority of repeated violations of Senate rules since May 11.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also appealed to members of the majority to attend the next session.