Cayetano’s familiar power play

Senator Allan Peter Cayetano’s insistence that he remains Senate President despite Malacañang’s recognition of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as his successor is a troubling display of political obstinacy. Rather than helping preserve the stability and credibility of the Senate, Cayetano appears determined to prolong a leadership dispute that threatens to distract the chamber from its constitutional responsibilities.

The controversy evokes memories of 2020, when Cayetano, then serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives, refused to honor a term-sharing agreement brokered by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Faced with dwindling support among lawmakers, he resorted to procedural maneuvers that prevented Congress from convening. His rival, Congressman Lord Allan Velasco, ultimately gathered lawmakers at another venue where he was elected Speaker. Only after Duterte’s intervention did Cayetano relinquish his post.

Today, history seems to be repeating itself. Despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to recognize Gatchalian as Senate President to ensure the continuity of legislative work, Cayetano continues to rally supporters to reject the new leadership. The resulting impasse comes at a particularly sensitive time, with the Senate expected to undertake the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next month.

Instead of focusing on restoring confidence in the institution, Cayetano and his ally, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, have escalated tensions through highly controversial accusations aired during a debatable Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. They alleged that former Senate President Vicente Sotto III received millions of pesos in commissions from flood control projects and accused members of the Senate media corps of deliberately suppressing their side of the controversy. Such claims, made without conclusive public proof, risk further eroding public trust in democratic institutions.

Equally revealing is Cayetano’s choice of platform. Rather than asserting his position through formal Senate proceedings, he has largely relied on Facebook Live broadcasts to make his case. This fuels the perception that the dispute is being fought in the arena of public spectacle rather than institutional process.

The President must put an end to this uncertainty. The Senate cannot afford a prolonged leadership crisis while major national issues await action. If Cayetano truly values the institution he claims to defend, he should respect the political reality before him and allow the Senate to move forward.