By Politiko staff
The Senate bloc aligned with Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday (June 4) denounced what it described as a “bogus hearing” conducted by allies of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, saying lawmakers should focus on their legislative duties instead of participating in unauthorized proceedings.
In a statement, the bloc urged senators to return to the chamber’s regular work of passing laws and exercising oversight, while calling on the Cayetano-led group to respect the Senate’s rules, quorum requirements, and newly constituted leadership.
“The Filipino people deserve senators who show up for work, not for drama,” the bloc said.
The group maintained that no official Senate hearings were scheduled on Thursday morning, citing Gatchalian’s earlier declaration that any proceeding convened by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Robinhood Padilla, and Rodante Marcoleta had no legal basis under Senate rules, the legislative calendar, or the authority of the chamber’s current leadership.
According to the bloc, the same senators who had repeatedly declined to attend duly convened sessions later proceeded to hold what it described as an unofficial and unauthorized gathering.
“They have refused to attend legitimately called sessions. Now, they are grandstanding in an unofficial and unauthorized gathering,” the statement said.
The bloc also expressed concern over reports that Senate employees had allegedly been threatened with legal consequences if they failed to follow directives from the Cayetano camp.
“These are civil servants who are simply trying to do their jobs in accordance with the law and the duly constituted leadership of the Senate,” it said.
The group further described the gathering as “a naked grab for power dressed up as ‘inquiry’ and ‘oversight,’” claiming that it was aimed at preserving positions already lost following what it called a valid and constitutional reorganization of the Senate leadership.
Instead of engaging in political infighting, the bloc said senators should focus on measures that would address rising prices, create jobs, and provide assistance to farmers, workers, and vulnerable sectors.
“Hindi dasurb ng taumbayan ang ginagawa niyo. Dasurb ng nagpapasweldo sa atin, #TrabahoHindiDrama,” the statement said.
The latest exchange marks another escalation in the ongoing power struggle within the Senate following the leadership shakeup that installed Gatchalian as acting Senate President and Senator Erwin Tulfo as chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Gatchalian had earlier announced that the committee’s hearing on the multibillion-peso flood control controversy had been moved to June 8, saying the postponement would give Tulfo time to review the panel’s records and evidence before proceeding with the inquiry.—Politiko.com.ph
