Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (extreme right) with her husband, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (center) and sister-in-law, Sen. Pia Cayetano (Photo from Mayor Cayetano's Facebook account)
Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano has joined the growing debate over the latest Senate developments.
On June 3, the Senate declared a quorum with 12 senators present. During the session, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore, while committee positions were declared vacant and subsequently reorganized.
Mayor Cayetano, wife of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, reposted a Facebook post by her sister-in-law, Sen. Pia Cayetano, who questioned the validity of the proceedings.
“When did 12 = 13?” Sen. Pia wrote, adding: “So today, when 12 senators convened and purportedly held session, how can that be valid?”
In her own post, Mayor Cayetano urged the public to seek truth through careful research.
“Sa gitna ng iba’t ibang opinyon at pananaw, mahalagang maglaan tayo ng panahon upang mag-research at alamin ang katotohanan. At kapag nakita natin ang tama, magkaroon tayo ng tapang na ipahayag at ipaglaban ito sa tamang paraan (Amid different opinions and perspectives, it is important that we take the time to research and discover the truth. When we recognize what is right, let us have the courage to express it and fight for it in the proper way),” she said.
She emphasized that the issue should be viewed through the lens of law and institutions, rather than political loyalties.
“Sa huli, ang usapin ay hindi kung sino ang ating sinusuportahan, kundi kung ano ang tama ayon sa batas at sa ating mga institusyon (Ultimately, the issue is not about who we support, but about what is right according to the law and our institutions),” she added.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (Photo from Mayor Cayetano's Facebook account)