Despite the recent political tension that gripped the Upper Chamber, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano urged fellow senators—both from the majority and the minority—to focus on national priorities and help maintain an “independent Senate.”

In a privilege speech on Monday, May 25, Cayetano appealed to his colleagues to redirect public discussions toward issues directly affecting Filipinos, saying debates over Senate leadership and political alignments should not overshadow more pressing national matters.

“Twenty-four tayo. Kung ang labing-isa sa atin ang sinasabi ay ‘Palitan si Cayetano,’ and there were 13 who were saying there was Con-Ass (Constitutional Assembly), et cetera — that’s what people are hearing, not inflation, not the economy, not the problem of health (We’re 24. But if 11 of us are calling on changing Cayetano, and there are 13 senators who are saying there was Con-Ass, et cetera—that’s what people are hearing. Not inflation, not the economy, and not the problem of health),” said Cayetano.

“Pag-usapan natin ang agriculture, agricultural smuggling, problema sa taniman ngayon, problema sa fertilizer, ang 7% inflation. Pag-usapan din natin kung ilang araw pa ba ang itatagal ng ating (supply ng) gasolina (Let’s talk about agriculture, agricultural smuggling, problem on fertilizer, the seven percent inflation. Let’s talk about how many days will our fuel supply last),” he said.

Cayetano, who took over the Senate leadership last May 11, after successfully ousting then Senate presidente Vicente “Tito” Sotto III with 13 votes, secured with the sudden appearance of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, said it is important to maintain an independent Senate.

The Senate chief said an independent Senate can work with the Executive branch while continuing to uphold checks and balances under the Constitution.

“Why can't we bind together, minority-majority, and be an independent Senate? Not to confront the executive, but to collaborate, also as checks and balances,” he said.

Cayetano has called for an all-senators caucus today, Tuesday, May 26, saying it is imperative for both blocs in the Senate to prepare to tackle the impeachment proceedings and the remaining legislative matters ahead of the June 6 sine die adjournment.

As the Senate President, Cayetano said he is “the servant leader of the 24 Senators”: “I'm here at your service.”

On Monday, May 25, the 11-man minority bloc, or the so-called “Solid Bloc 11,” scored what they called a “horrible propaganda” made by Sen. Imee Marcos, who is now a member of the new majority bloc.

This was after Marcos, presented during the plenary session a video supposedly detailing a plan to amend the 1987 Constitution to extend the terms of top government officials, including the President.

Marcos, a known ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, said in her privilege speech insisted that there is an ongoing efforts to pursue a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), Charter change, and term extension.

She also claimed of an alleged proposal raising the required minimum age for the presidency from 45 to 50 years old, which she said would disqualify the vice president in the 2028 presidential election.

After her speech, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri eventually made a point of order under Section 93, 94, 95, on unparliamentary acts and language and moved to strike the "horrible" propaganda video from the records of the Senate.

Except for Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, all members of the minority bloc, seconded the motion.

"It’s unparliamentary. And we have seen videos presenting evidence on issues taken up on the floor...But to come up with an opinionated piece like that, ganong klaseng na (that type of) propaganda, na (that's) sowing intrigue," Zubiri said.

Sotto seconded the motion of Zubiri that the “editorial video” should be stricken off the record, “because it appears that we’re planning something sinister.”

Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also seconded the motion.