The Senate’s previous “fathers” consistently demonstrated statesmanship and professionalism during leadership transitions — all except one, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson noted over the weekend.
Lacson said disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano stood out as the only Senate “leader” who triggered a legislative paralysis all because he tried to cling to power.
“STATESMEN ALL, EXCEPT ONE —
I’ve seen the ‘changing of the guard’ in the Senate many, many times.
Frank Drilon to Manny Villar in 2006; Manny Villar to Juan Ponce Enrile in 2008… Koko Pimentel to Tito Sotto in 2018… Chiz Escudero to Tito in September 2025; Tito to Alan Cayetano in May 2026; finally, to Sherwin Gatchalian on June 17, 2026.
Save for the last one, everyone else relinquished their posts with exemplary statesmanship and professionalism,” he said on X Sunday afternoon.
In Filipino: Lacson: Lahat ng Naunang ‘Ama’ ng Senado ay mga Statesman – Maliban sa Isa
STATESMEN ALL, EXCEPT ONE —
I’ve seen the ‘changing of the guard’ in the Senate many, many times.
Frank Drilon to Manny Villar in 2006; Manny Villar to Juan Ponce Enrile in 2008… Koko Pimentel to Tito Sotto in 2018… Chiz Escudero to Tito in September 2025; Tito to Alan…— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 21, 2026
Cayetano took over the Senate presidency from Vicente Sotto III last May 11. Under his watch, the Senate was entangled in several controversies, with P700 million in taxpayers’ money wasted during his 28-day “rule.”
He also led a boycott of Senate sessions by the now-minority bloc from June 1 to 3, but the presence of Sen. Francis Escudero in the June 3 session paved the way for a session where Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
Despite his ouster as in the June 3 session, Cayetano insisted on being the “legitimate, legal, and moral” Senate president, and led most of the new minority bloc in petitioning the Supreme Court to recognize him as still Senate president.
Even after Gatchalian was formally elected Senate President during the Senate’s special session last June 17, Cayetano resorted to attacking members of the majority bloc via his Facebook Live broadcasts.
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Lacson: Lahat ng Naunang ‘Ama’ ng Senado ay mga Statesman – Maliban sa Isa
Ipinanghinayang ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na ang mga naunang “ama” ng Senado ay palaging nagpakita ng statesmanship at propesyonalismo sa tuwing may pagpapalit ng liderato — maliban sa isa.
Ani Lacson, si disgrasyadong ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano ang natatanging “lider” ng Senado na nagdulot ng pagkaparalisa ng lehislatibong proseso dahil sa kanyang pagpupumilit na kumapit sa pwesto.
“STATESMEN ALL, EXCEPT ONE —
I’ve seen the ‘changing of the guard’ in the Senate many, many times.
Frank Drilon to Manny Villar in 2006; Manny Villar to Juan Ponce Enrile in 2008… Koko Pimentel to Tito Sotto in 2018… Chiz Escudero to Tito in September 2025; Tito to Alan Cayetano in May 2026; finally, to Sherwin Gatchalian on June 17, 2026.
Save for the last one, everyone else relinquished their posts with exemplary statesmanship and professionalism,” aniya sa X noong Linggo ng hapon.
Pumalit si Cayetano kay Vicente Sotto III bilang Senate President noong Mayo 11. Sa ilalim ng kanyang “pamumuno,” nasangkot ang Senado sa ilang kontrobersiya, kabilang ang pagkakasayang ng P700 milyon mula sa pondo ng taumbayan sa loob lamang ng kanyang 28 araw na “pamumuno.”
Namuno siya ng pagboykot ng ngayo’y minorya sa mga sesyon ng Senado mula Hunyo 1 hanggang 3. Subalit ang pagdalo ni Sen. Francis Escudero sa sesyon noong Hunyo 3 ang nagbigay-daan sa pagpupulong kung saan nahalal si Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Senate President Pro Tempore at Acting Senate President.
Sa kabila ng kanyang pagpapatalsik sa sesyon noong Hunyo 3, iginiit pa rin ni Cayetano na siya ang “legitimate, legal, and moral” na Senate President, at pinangunahan ang karamihan sa bagong minoryang bloke sa paghahain ng petisyon sa Korte Suprema upang kilalanin siyang nananatiling Senate President.
Kahit matapos pormal na mahalal si Gatchalian bilang Senate President sa espesyal na sesyon ng Senado noong Hunyo 17, nagpatuloy si Cayetano sa pag-atake sa mga kasapi ng mayoryang bloke sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga Facebook Live broadcast.
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