Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday accused former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano of lacking the decency and respect for the rule of law shown by former Senate President Jose Avelino, who brought a similar Senate leadership dispute before the Supreme Court.
In a post on X, Lacson said Cayetano should allow the high court to resolve the issue instead of refusing to recognize the new Senate leadership.
“Thank you Philstar for plainly explaining all the similarities in the two Senate controversies; the only difference being, Avelino brought his case to the Supreme Court. Cayetano does not have Avelino’s decency and respect for the same rule of law,” Lacson said.
He was referring to a Philstar.com article comparing the June 3 Senate leadership change with the events of February 18, 1949, which led to the replacement of then Senate President Avelino by Mariano Cuenco.
In 1949, Avelino and his allies allegedly used dilatory tactics to stop Senator Lorenzo Tañada from delivering a privilege speech containing charges against him. Avelino later banged the gavel and left the session hall, but the 12 remaining senators continued the proceedings and designated Cuenco to preside.
The senators also passed a resolution declaring the Senate presidency vacant and elected Cuenco as acting Senate President.
Lacson said the current leadership dispute carries similarities to that historic case. On June 3, 12 senators, composed of the 11 members of the then minority bloc and Senator Francis Escudero, convened amid a boycott led by Cayetano and his allies.
The group declared the Senate’s elective posts vacant and elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President, citing the Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco to support its position that a quorum was present.
Cayetano, however, has insisted that he remains Senate President. He and some allies appeared at the Senate on Thursday, a day after the chamber adjourned sine die, and conducted what they called a committee hearing.
Lacson also criticized Cayetano for allegedly dragging his name into the hearing without evidence.
“Disgraced ex-SP Cayetano desperately dragged my name in a bogus BRC hearing without an iota of evidence or even a tiny bit of basis or reason except to pull me into a corruption controversy,” Lacson said.
“He exposed his loathsome behavior by using overstretched innuendos. He is disgusting,” he added.