Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano Speaks on Social Media Amid 2-day Absence in Session
ALAN PETER CAYETANO – The Senate President claimed that they are allegedly using the Senate rules to keep the committees under them.
Previously, 13 senators declared the positions in the Senate vacant. Former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was ousted and replaced by then Minority Leader Alan Cayetano. Sotto believes that his ouster may allegedly be related with the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was vocal of his belief that an impeachment trial should start “forthwith”. He even revealed seeking the help of his “justice” friends over a possible impeachment trial of the Vice President.
The then-minority denied that the change of leadership is a plot in line with the possibility of an impeachment trial. The committee chairmanships also changed following the ouster of Sotto and the new position of Cayetano.
Sen. Loren Legarda who now belongs to the Senate majority is the new Senate President Pro Tempore. The chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is now Sen. Pia Cayetano. Both positions were previously held by Sen. Ping Lacson.
Recently, amid the voluntary surrender of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, no majority senator arrived for the Monday session of the Senate. Some of the majority senators accompanied Estrada to show their support to him.
The majority bloc including Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano also ditched the Senate session today. Instead, on social media, the Senate Chief aired his side and the stand of his bloc. Based on his post, Cayetano claimed that they are using the Senate rules to retain the committee chairmanships under their lead.
“Ginamit ‘yung parliamentary tool na walkout para ‘di matuloy ang change of rules. So ngayon, ang majority, ginagamit din ang rules… to ensure na hindi agawain ang mga committee,” Cayetano said.
Based on the post, Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that the majority senators are allegedly using the Senate rules ‘rightfully, morally, and legally”. He claimed that their absence is allegedly to make sure that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing will be pushed through on Thursday, June 4.
Following the two-day absence of the majority senators in the Senate session, minority Sen. Raffy Tulfo issued a challenged to Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano.