Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday accused the minority bloc and some administration allies of creating a “man-made crisis” in the Senate, warning that the chamber should be preparing for the impeachment proceedings and the flood control investigation instead of being drawn into a leadership dispute.
“In the last few weeks, there was a man-made crisis by the Minority in cooperation with some people in the administration, by them trying to undermine the leadership of the Senate at ipinapalabas na magulo ang Senado,” Cayetano said.
His statement came after the Senate proceeded with a plenary session following the attendance of Senator Francis Escudero, bringing the number of senators present to 12.
In a Facebook Live on June 3, Cayetano challenged the proceedings as unconstitutional and contrary to Senate rules, saying they could trigger a broader political crisis at a time when senators should be focused on committee work, the impeachment process, and the inquiry into alleged flood control irregularities.
“Instead of a simple sine die adjournment kung saan mayroon tayong isang buwan na magtrabaho ang mga committee at pagkatapos uumpisahan na natin ang impeachment, they are going to bring the Senate and the country into a political crisis,” he said.
Cayetano maintained that the Constitution and Senate rules require at least 13 senators to elect Senate leaders. He argued that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s election as Senate President Pro Tempore and the subsequent reshuffling of committee chairmanships were done without the required number of votes.
“Wala po silang [bilang na] thirteen,” Cayetano said.
“This is an illegal coup d’état na may kasamang pagbabasura ng ating Constitution,” he added.
Cayetano also questioned the timing of the leadership moves, claiming these were intended to derail the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled on Thursday, June 4, on alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
“Wala naman po silang ginawa ngayon kung hindi baguhin ang mga committee para walang Blue Ribbon Committee hearing bukas,” he said.
He also warned that the dispute could affect the handling of the impeachment proceedings, saying any move to amend the Senate impeachment rules would require publication and could delay the trial.
“Alam niyo po, made-delay po ang impeachment sapagkat ‘pag pinalitan ang [Senate] rules ay kailangan pa na magkaroon ng publication,” he said.
“We need the impeachment [trial] to be fair and impartial. We need to investigate the flood control scam in a very impartial way that will be satisfactory to all our people. And we need a functioning Senate, an independent Senate,” he added.
Despite the dispute, Cayetano said the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing would proceed as scheduled.
“Tomorrow, tuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee. I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines. There are still functioning committees,” he said.