Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson rebuked the attempt of disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to deflect accountability on the issue of P700 million in wasted taxpayers’ money during his 28-day “leadership.”
Cayetano, in yet another lengthy Facebook Live, had claimed among other things that the Senate’s daily operating expenses of P25 million would have been incurred regardless of who was serving as Senate President.
“Tama naman — ‘Whoever was SP noon, ganun din ang gastos…’ Pero, output ang pinag-uusapan: trabaho sa plenaryo, hindi boycott; magpasa ng batas, hindi mag livestream sa Facebook. At kung ayaw tumulong, huwag na lang manggulo. Kaya nga sayang ang pera, kasi zero output,” Lacson said on X Thursday evening.
In Filipino: Lacson, Binanatan ang Disgrasyadong Ex-SP sa Tangkang Umiwas sa Isyu ng Nasayang na Pera ng Taumbayan
(“It is true that whoever served as SP would have incurred similar expenses. But the issue is output – working in plenary instead of boycotting sessions, passing laws instead of livestreaming on Facebook. And if you don’t want to help, at least don’t disrupt our work. Taxpayers’ money was wasted because there was zero output during Cayetano’s watch.”)
Tama naman — “Whoever was SP noon, ganun din ang gastos…” Pero, output ang pinag-uusapan: trabaho sa plenaryo, hindi boycott; magpasa ng batas, hindi mag livestream sa Facebook. At kung ayaw tumulong, huwag na lang manggulo. Kaya nga sayang ang pera, kasi zero output.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 18, 2026
On Thursday morning, Lacson called out Cayetano for wasting at least P700 million when he led the chamber due to the lowlights that marred the Senate under his “leadership.”
He said the lowlights of the period included the shooting inside the Senate two days after Cayetano became Senate president; the escape of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa while under the Senate’s “protective custody”; a boycott of sessions by the Cayetano-led bloc; a failed destabilization try; and bogus committee hearings.
The “delulu” era in the Senate ended June 3 when Francis Escudero joined the then 11-member minority to form a quorum and elect Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate President. Gatchalian was formally elected Senate President during the Senate’s special session last June 17.
“As per estimate made by the erstwhile Finance committee chairman, now SP Gatchalian, under the 2026 GAA, the Senate spends approximately P25M/day – salaries, allowances, MOOE, etc. Multiply that by 28 days of inaction and inactivity, it’s P700M,” Lacson said.
As per estimate made by the erstwhile Finance committee chairman, now SP Gatchalian, under the 2026 GAA, the Senate spends approximately P25M/day – salaries, allowances, MOOE, etc. Multiply that by 28 days of inaction and inactivity, it’s P700M.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 18, 2026
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Lacson, Binanatan ang Disgrasyadong Ex-SP sa Tangkang Umiwas sa Isyu ng Nasayang na Pera ng Taumbayan
Tinuligsa ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes ng gabi ang pagtatangka ni disgrasyadong ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na umiwas sa isyu ng P700 milyong pera ng taumbayan na nasayang sa ilalim ng kanyang 28-araw na “pamumuno.”
Sa isa na namang mahabang Facebook Live Huwebes ng hapon, iginiit ni Cayetano, bukod sa iba pang pahayag, na gagastusin pa rin umano ng Senado ang humigit-kumulang P25 milyon kada araw sinuman ang Senate President.
“Tama naman — ‘Whoever was SP noon, ganun din ang gastos…’ Pero, output ang pinag-uusapan: trabaho sa plenaryo, hindi boycott; magpasa ng batas, hindi mag livestream sa Facebook. At kung ayaw tumulong, huwag na lang manggulo. Kaya nga sayang ang pera, kasi zero output,” ani Lacson sa X.
Nitong Huwebes ng umaga, kinastigo ni Lacson si Cayetano dahil sa umano’y pagsasayang ng hindi bababa sa P700 milyong pondo ng bayan habang pinamumunuan nito ang Senado, bunsod ng mga kontrobersiya at kapalpakan na nagmarka sa kanyang panunungkulan.
Ayon kay Lacson, kabilang sa mga ito ang insidente ng pamamaril sa loob ng Senado dalawang araw matapos maupo si Cayetano bilang Senate President; ang pagtakas ni Sen. Ronald dela Rosa habang nasa ilalim ng “protective custody” ng Senado; ang boycott sa mga sesyon ng blokeng pinamumunuan ni Cayetano; ang nabigong pagtatangka sa destabilisasyon; at mga pekeng pagdinig ng komite.
Natapos ang “delulu era” sa Senado noong Hunyo 3 nang sumama si Francis Escudero sa noo’y 11-miyembrong minorya upang makabuo ng quorum at maihalal si Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Acting Senate President. Pormal na nahalal si Gatchalian bilang Senate President sa special session ng Senado noong Hunyo 17.
“As per estimate made by the erstwhile Finance committee chairman, now SP Gatchalian, under the 2026 GAA, the Senate spends approximately P25M/day – salaries, allowances, MOOE, etc. Multiply that by 28 days of inaction and inactivity, it’s P700M,” ani Lacson.
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