With virtually everyone who matters no longer recognizing disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano as leader of the chamber, what is he?
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson raised this question on Sunday as he noted Cayetano’s penchant for livestreaming – including running the Senate via Facebook Live – reflects his weakness on both the law and the facts.
Lacson also dismissed Cayetano’s latest claims that he connived with Malacanang to pin the flood control scandal on certain personalities while covering up for others, pointing to the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan’s validation of the Blue Ribbon Committee findings during his tenure.
“The Executive Department, House of Representatives, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, law deans, law professors, former Senate presidents and many others do not recognize Senator Alan Cayetano as the President of the Senate. So, what is he?” Lacson said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson sa Disgrasyadong Ex-Senate President Cayetano: Ano Ba Siya?
The Executive Department, House of Representatives, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, law deans, law professors, former Senate presidents and many others do not recognize Senator Alan Cayetano as the President of the Senate. So, what is he?
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 7, 2026
“When you’re strong on the law, pound the law. When you’re strong on the facts, pound the facts. When you’re weak on both… — mag-Facebook Live ka na lang,” he added.
“When you’re strong on the law, pound the law. When you’re strong on the facts, pound the facts. When you’re weak on both…” — mag-Facebook live ka na lang.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 7, 2026
On June 3, 12 senators convened despite a Cayetano-led boycott by the then majority. The new majority elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President. The leadership change was recognized by Malacanang, the House leadership, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, among others.
Despite this, Cayetano insisted that he is still the Senate president, leading a bogus hearing last Thursday and claiming he would serve as presiding officer in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial – prompting Lacson to brand him pathetic and detached from reality.
Meanwhile, Lacson brushed aside the disgraced ex-Senate president’s claims on Facebook Live Saturday evening, that he selectively implicated some personalities and covered up for others in the flood control mess.
“Lie pa more, kung saan siya masaya (He can tell more lies, whatever makes him happy),” Lacson said in response to Cayetano’s 50-minute livestream.
“The fact that the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan have already validated the Blue Ribbon Committee’s recommendations belies Cayetano’s accusations,” he added.
He stressed that the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings he chaired merely followed the evidence, which led to charges filed against some personalities, including fellow senators.
While Lacson said he was pained over the fate of some of his colleagues, he cannot turn his back on his duty as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman at the time.
“I repeat: If we will investigate in aid of legislation just to cover up for some people, we might as well not investigate at all,” he said.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the new Blue Ribbon chairman, has scheduled a hearing on the flood control mess on Monday, June 8.
*****
Lacson sa Disgrasyadong Ex-Senate President Cayetano: Ano Ba Siya?
Kung halos lahat ng may saysay ay hindi na kumikilala sa disgrasyadong ex-Senate President na si Alan Peter Cayetano bilang lider ng Senado, ano ba siya?
Ito ang tanong na ibinato ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo, sabay puna na puro Facebook Live lang ang alam ni Cayetano – na nagpapakita na kahinaan nito sa batas at sa datos.
Binalewala din ni Lacson ang pinakabagong alegasyon ni Cayetano na nakipagsabwatan umano siya sa Malacañang upang idiin ang ilang personalidad sa iskandalo sa flood control habang pinagtatakpan ang iba – at iginiit na pinagtibay ng Ombudsman at Sandiganbayan ang mga natuklasan ng Blue Ribbon Committee noong kanyang panunungkulan.
“The Executive Department, House of Representatives, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, law deans, law professors, former Senate presidents and many others do not recognize Senator Alan Cayetano as the President of the Senate. So, what is he?” ani Lacson sa X.
“When you’re strong on the law, pound the law. When you’re strong on the facts, pound the facts. When you’re weak on both… — mag-Facebook Live ka na lang,” dagdag niya.
Noong Hunyo 3, nagpulong ang 12 senador sa kabila ng boycott na pinangunahan ni Cayetano at ng noo’y mayorya. Inihalal ng bagong mayorya si Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Senate President Pro Tempore at Acting Senate President. Kinilala ang pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado ng Malacañang, ng liderato ng Kamara de Representantes, at ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines, bukod sa iba pa.
Sa kabila nito, iginiit pa rin ni Cayetano na siya pa rin ang Senate president. Pinangunahan pa niya ang isang huwad na pagdinig noong nakaraang Huwebes at inangkin na siya ang magsisilbing presiding officer sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte—na nagbunsod kay Lacson upang ilarawan siya bilang kahiya-hiya at hiwalay sa realidad.
Samantala, pinawalang-halaga ni Lacson ang mga pahayag ng napatalsik na dating Senate president sa Facebook Live nitong Sabado ng gabi na umano’y piling personalidad lamang ang kanyang idiniin habang pinagtatakpan ang iba sa usapin ng flood control.
“Lie pa more, kung saan siya masaya,” ani Lacson bilang tugon sa 50-minute livestream ni Cayetano.
“The fact that the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan have already validated the Blue Ribbon Committee’s recommendations belies Cayetano’s accusations,” dagdag niya.
Binigyang-diin niya na ang mga pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee na kanyang pinamunuan ay nakabatay lamang sa mga ebidensiyang nakalap, na humantong sa pagsasampa ng mga kaso laban sa ilang personalidad, kabilang ang ilang kapwa senador.
Bagama’t sinabi ni Lacson na nasasaktan siya sa sinapit ng ilan sa kanyang mga kasamahan, hindi niya maaaring talikuran ang kanyang tungkulin bilang chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee noong panahong iyon.
“I repeat: If we will investigate in aid of legislation just to cover up for some people, we might as well not investigate at all,” aniya.
Nakatakdang magsagawa ng pagdinig si Sen. Erwin Tulfo, ang bagong chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee, kaugnay ng usapin sa flood control sa Lunes, Hunyo 8.
*****