STEPPING ASIDE OR SAVING FACE? CAYETANO SIGNALS READINESS TO LEAVE SENATE PRESIDENCY

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has signaled his readiness to relinquish the Senate’s top post, acknowledging that the opposing bloc may soon have enough votes to elect a new leader while vowing to continue pursuing what he described as the truth behind controversial flood control funds.

In a lengthy statement posted on his Facebook page, Cayetano said discussions with Joel Villanueva indicated that his colleagues on the other side “will soon have the numbers” to install a new Senate President. He stressed that he would not stand in the way of such a vote, saying that leadership positions in a democracy are temporary and that public office is “a loan, never a possession.”

The statement appears to mark Cayetano’s clearest acknowledgment yet that his coalition may no longer command majority support in the chamber, weeks after a bitter leadership dispute that split the Senate and triggered competing claims over who rightfully holds the Senate presidency.

Despite his apparent concession, Cayetano maintained that the battle was never about retaining power. Instead, he argued that the conflict stemmed from efforts to pursue investigations into billions of pesos in flood control funds that he alleged some sectors wanted kept from public scrutiny.

“From the very beginning it was about the truth,” Cayetano said, claiming that one side sought to expose the alleged anomalies while the other was determined to keep them hidden.

The outgoing Senate leader also took aim at what he described as the Senate’s failure to prioritize urgent legislation, noting that none of the administration’s reported 21 priority measures appeared headed for passage despite assurances that leadership changes would not slow down legislative work. He criticized lawmakers for spending weeks focused on securing votes rather than advancing measures addressing rising prices, wages, electricity costs, and post-earthquake recovery efforts.

Cayetano likewise reiterated his position that the June 3 Senate reorganization was unconstitutional, insisting that it lacked the quorum required under the Constitution. While acknowledging that the political numbers have shifted, he said the legal question remains unresolved and is now before the courts.

The senator also warned against what he called executive interference in Senate affairs, arguing that the independence of the legislative chamber is weakened whenever outside forces influence the selection of its leadership.

Still, Cayetano struck a conciliatory tone toward colleagues who may vote for a new Senate President, saying he harbors no bitterness and is prepared to cooperate with whoever is lawfully elected to lead the chamber.

Closing his message, Cayetano thanked supporters who stood by him throughout the leadership struggle and vowed to continue seeking accountability over the issues he has raised.

“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS — your Public Servant,” he said.

With the numbers in the Senate continuing to shift, Cayetano’s statement may signal the beginning of the end of the leadership standoff — though the political and legal battles surrounding it appear far from over.