Senators Panfilo Lacson (left) and Alan Peter Cayetano —FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday said the Senate spent an estimated P700 million during the 28 days that Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano served as Senate President, describing the period as a costly episode marked by political turmoil and legislative paralysis.
In a post on X, Lacson said Cayetano’s brief tenure as Senate President was a waste of public funds, citing a series of controversies and political disputes that unfolded during the leadership struggle in the chamber.
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“THE PHILIPPINE SENATE in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano: Estimated Cost—P700M. Output—chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its ‘protective custody,’ session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator,” Lacson wrote.
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READ: Cayetano calls Lacson ‘divisive’, slams P700M estimate
Lacson’s estimate was based on an earlier statement by newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that the Senate spends about P25 million daily for salaries, electricity, utilities and other operating expenses. Multiplied by the 28 days that Cayetano led the chamber, the figure amounts to roughly P700 million.
Responding via Facebook Live, Cayetano accused Lacson of being“divisive” and engaging in “intellectual dishonesty.”
Cayetano maintained that Lacson’s computation created a misleading narrative by implying that the entire amount was attributable to his stint as Senate President. Quoting a line he recalled about the use of statistics, Cayetano said, “Statistics is like a bikini. What it shows is very revealing, but what it hides is essential.” He added that the figure was presented in a way intended to stir controversy rather than provide context.
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Weeks of deadlock
Lacson’s estimate came a day after Gatchalian formally secured the Senate presidency during a special session on June 17, ending weeks of leadership uncertainty that began when Cayetano unseated then Senate President Vicente Sotto III on May 11.
READ: Senate row ends: Gatchalian takes helm, Cayetano yields
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Cayetano obtained the required 13 votes after Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa resurfaced in the Senate after six months in hiding and joined the effort to replace Sotto.
The leadership change was soon followed by controversy after Cayetano placed Dela Rosa under Senate “protective custody” amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Dela Rosa later left the Senate premises before dawn on May 14 following a shooting incident involving Senate security personnel and law enforcement agents.
The chamber subsequently descended into a deadlock after Dela Rosa’s disappearance and the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada left both the majority and minority blocs with 11 senators each.
Cayetano’s allies boycotted Senate sessions on June 1 to 3, preventing the chamber from conducting business. The standoff shifted on June 3 when Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero attended the session and helped establish a quorum for the bloc led by Gatchalian.
During that session, senators present declared all leadership positions vacant and elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore. Since 13 votes were required to elect a Senate President, Gatchalian initially served as the chamber’s presiding officer in an acting capacity.
Disputed leadership
Cayetano rejected the move and maintained that he remained Senate President, arguing that the June 3 session was invalid. His allies also conducted separate blue ribbon committee hearings despite changes in the committee’s leadership.
The impasse ended on June 18 after Sen. Joel Villanueva joined Gatchalian’s camp, providing the 13 votes necessary to formally elect the latter as Senate President. Cayetano eventually conceded before the vote and pledged cooperation with the chamber’s new leadership.
Shooting probe dropped
Meanwhile, Gatchalian said the Senate would no longer pursue its own investigation into the May 13 shooting incident that occurred within the Senate premises.
“It is better to leave it to the DOJ to investigate. We cannot investigate ourselves,” Gatchalian told reporters.
The shooting occurred after National Bureau of Investigation personnel were deployed to secure entry and exit points of the Senate building through the Government Service Insurance System compound. Former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms chief Mao Aplasca and members of the Senate security force fired warning shots during the confrontation.
An investigation had been initiated under Cayetano’s leadership, but it did not proceed before he was removed from office.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier said the Department of Justice’s preliminary findings indicated that…
Read the full article at Philippine Daily Inquirer →📄Source document: P700M for chaos: Lacson on Cayetano’s 28 days as Senate president→7 reports
GMA News OnlineIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 906 days agoSenator Sherwin Gatchalian stated that the Senate only recognizes Erwin Tulfo's Blue Ribbon Committee.
Bias read (Center): The summary presents a factual statement without apparent bias or loaded language. It reports on a political claim made by Senator Gatchalian regarding the recognition of a committee, without taking a stance or providing additional context that would indicate a particular ideological leaning.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 886 days agoSenator Erwin Tulfo expressed hope that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian would be elected as Senate president during a special session of Congress. The current majority is still short of the 13 votes needed to elect a new Senate president, a position that has been vacant since June 3. Tulfo stated that Gatchalian would step down once the required number of votes is secured.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports directly on Senator Erwin Tulfo's statements regarding the potential election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president. There is no clear ideological framing or emphasis on one side of
RapplerIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 826 days agoThe article discusses an ongoing dispute within the Philippine Senate regarding the authority to conduct blue ribbon committee hearings. Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian asserts that the Senate recognizes only one blue ribbon committee, led by Senator Erwin Tulfo. Meanwhile, former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's bloc plans to hold a separate hearing. Former Congressman Mike Defensor announced the event, which will take place outside the Senate building, and called on supporters to attend. The hearing involves testimonies from individuals accused of delivering kickbacks to various
Bias read (Center): The article presents both sides of the dispute without overtly favoring one over the other. It includes statements from multiple parties involved and does not use biased language or selectively omit information.
Official sources cited
- government Statement from Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian
- statement Announcement by Mike Defensor on Facebook
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 855 days ago NCRPO still validating alleged threat to SenateThe National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) stated it is still validating an alleged threat against the Senate. NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin emphasized that police deployments have been increased to ensure readiness in case the threat is confirmed. Recent tensions in the Senate intensified following a leadership change on June 3, when a 12-member bloc removed then-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and appointed Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate president. Gatchalian reportedly mentioned a threat linked to the 18 alleged bagmen involved in a flood control scandal.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on the NCRPO's response to an alleged threat and provides background on recent Senate developments without using biased language or selectively omitting perspectives.
Official sources cited
- government National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentLeftFactual 80Objective 753 days ago Cayetano claps back on colleagues slamming him over FB live rantsSenator Alan Peter Cayetano defended his use of Facebook Live broadcasts, criticizing fellow senators like Ping Lacson and the Tulfo brothers for allegedly being upset about his online presence. He noted that these senators also use social media extensively and suggested their criticism stems from his high viewership, which he attributes to telling the truth.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Cayetano's defense of his social media usage and implies criticism toward his opponents, using phrases such as 'creating intrigue' and suggesting others are envious of his viewership. The framing emphasizes Cayetano's perspective without significant counterbalance.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenter2 days ago Senate output, not operating costs, is the real issue – LacsonSenator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson criticized former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's 28-day tenure, arguing that the focus should be on the Senate's lack of legislative output rather than its operating costs. Lacson accused Cayetano of deflecting blame by comparing different types of expenses without providing evidence. Cayetano countered that the P700 million figure represented standard operating costs and would have been incurred regardless of leadership.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both senators' arguments without overtly favoring one side. It includes direct quotes from both Lacson and Cayetano, allowing readers to form their own conclusions. There is no evident editorializing or biased language that leans toward either perspective.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentRight2 days ago P700M for ‘chaos’: Lacson on Cayetano’s 28 days as Senate presidentSenator Panfilo Lacson claimed that the Philippine Senate spent approximately P700 million during the 28-day tenure of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President, calling the period one of chaos and inefficiency. Lacson cited various controversies and political disputes during Cayetano's leadership, including incidents such as a failed destabilization attempt and unauthorized committee hearings. The estimate was derived from Senate President-elect Sherwin Gatchalian's assertion that the Senate costs around P25 million per day in operational expenses.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Senator Lacson's claim with minimal counterbalance, emphasizing his critique of Cayetano's leadership without providing direct rebuttals or alternative perspectives from Cayetano or other officials. The framing highlights the 'chaos' and 'costly episode,' which aligns with a pro
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