THE Senate's previous "fathers" or presidents demonstrated statesmanship and professionalism during leadership transitions except one, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.
The senator said former Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano stood out as the only Senate leader who triggered a legislative paralysis 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," Lacson wrote on X on Sunday.
"Save for the last one, everyone else relinquished their posts with exemplary statesmanship and professionalism," Lacson said.
Cayetano unseated Sotto on May 11 through the help of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who suddenly appeared at the Senate after being absent for six months. He provided Cayetano the "crucial" 13th vote to snatch the Senate top post.
Lacson said under Cayetano's watch, the Senate was entangled in several controversies, with P700 million in taxpayers' money wasted during his 28-day "rule."
Cayetano also led a boycott of Senate sessions from June 1 to 3. But Escudero's presence in the June 3 session paved the way for a session where Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president, Lacson said.
Despite his ouster 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 Senate president, Lacson said.
Even after Gatchalian was 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, he added.
