Amid political tensions and growing economic pressure on Filipino families, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano called for “extraordinary unity and solutions,” urging public officials to move beyond conflict and focus on urgent national concerns.
In a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday, May 23, Cayetano said the country is facing extraordinary challenges that require stronger cooperation among leaders and institutions.
“’Pag extraordinary y’ung problema, kailangan extraordinary din y’ung solusyon natin. We have to have extraordinary unity,” he said.
Cayetano’s remarks came as the Senate continues to deal with the fallout from the May 13 shooting incident inside its premises, which prompted calls for an independent inquiry and heightened public scrutiny of security protocols in the chamber. A GMA News report also noted that Cayetano had urged an impartial investigation into the incident.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the incident, Cayetano said lawmakers should allow the probe to proceed without letting the issue paralyze the Senate’s work.
“Hindi natin minemenos y’ung nangyari noong May 13. Ang sinasabi natin, let’s deal with it professionally. Let’s have an independent investigation. Let’s wait for all of the results,” he said.
“In the meantime, let us show the Filipino people that the Senate is the Senate,” he added.
Cayetano said the chamber must continue addressing the concerns that directly affect ordinary Filipinos, including the rising cost of goods, healthcare access, education, transport problems, and other economic burdens faced by families and workers.
He framed his appeal as both a governance and moral challenge, saying public service should be guided by faith, restraint, and a sense of responsibility.
“If you take out God from the equation, from our society, from our schools, from our laws, from the Senate, from the House, from Malacañang, we will truly be lost,” he said.
“Hindi pwedeng wala si God sa usapan. Let’s not abuse God. Let’s not use God. Let’s be used by God,” he added.
Cayetano also warned against allowing political noise and competing narratives to distract leaders from the country’s larger problems, saying public institutions must remain functional even in times of controversy.
He said the Senate should demonstrate stability by allowing investigations to run their course while continuing its legislative duties and responding to the daily concerns of Filipinos.