Cayetano hits minority bloc: 'Mas importante sa inyo ang 2028?'
By Dhel Nazario
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, on Friday, May 15, criticized members of the Senate minority bloc, stating that they are prioritizing political ambitions over the safety of senators and staff during the recent shooting incident inside the Senate complex.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano faces members of the media at the Senate in Pasay City on May 14, 2026, following the shooting incident that triggered a lockdown inside the Senate complex a day earlier. (Mark Balmores)
In a Facebook live, Cayetano expressed frustration over what he described as attempts to “flip the narrative” surrounding the May 13 incident involving personnel of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.
“Kayo po sa minority, mas importante sa inyo ang 2028, mas importante sa inyo ang Senate Presidency, kaysa sa buhay na mga kasamahan niyo? O sige, tanggapin ko na yun (For you in the minority, 2028 matters more, the Senate Presidency matters more, than the lives of your colleagues? Fine, I’ll accept that),” Cayetano said.
Cayetano also stated that he was offended that Executive Secretary Ralph Recto posted on his Facebook that what happened was staged without waiting for the investigation.
He added that critics were portraying the Senate as chaotic under his leadership while disregarding the fear experienced by those inside the building during the incident.
“But you're willing to see the Senate that way and you're willing to join the narrative, to flip the narrative, to say that since I got there, magulo ang Senate (the Senate is in disarray),” he said.
Cayetano replaced Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III as Senate President on Monday, May 11, with Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa making a surprise return to secure 13 votes to oust Sotto.
Under his leadership, two days later, a shooting incident occurred inside the Senate.