Cayetano warns Gatchalian on being 'used' by Malacañang, fellow senators
By Dhel Nazario
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday, June 6, warned Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on being “used” in the ongoing Senate leadership dispute.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (Mark Balmores)
In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano even offered to broker a solution to the impasse.
Cayetano said Gatchalian should protect his political future and avoid being influenced by Malacañang or his colleagues who were seeking to advance their own interests.
“Kaya nga sabi ko, mag-ingat si Senator Win. Kasi maganda naman future niya. Huwag ka magpagamit sa Malacañang at dun sa mga kasamahan mo. Kahit binibigyan ka ng high position (That's why I said Senator Win should be careful. He has a good future ahead of him. Don’t let yourself be used by Malacañang and by your colleagues. Even if they are offering you high positions),” Cayetano said.
The senator then shared an advice that was given to him by someone he deeply respects: “Receive, don’t grab.”
Cayetano said he never sought the Senate presidency by force, as he cited several instances when he could have pursued the position but chose not to.
“I didn’t grab the Senate presidency in 2016. I didn’t grab it in 2025. I didn’t grab it in February 2022. But through God’s grace, napunta sa akin (it came to me),” he said.
Amid the continuing dispute over the Senate leadership, Cayetano said he was willing to meet with Gatchalian to discuss a possible resolution.
“But I’ll offer you a solution, Senator Win. Mag-meeting tayo, may naiisip akong solusyon (Let's meet, I have a solution in mind),” he said.
“Mahirap humanap tayo ng solusyon kung sino ang tunay na Senate President kasi yung tatlong libro na hawak ko ay nagsasabing yung legitimate Senate President, yung nahalal nung 13 [senators] (It will be difficult for us to find a solution on who the real Senate President is because the three books I have say that the legitimate Senate President is the one who was elected by 13 senators),” he said.
Cayetano has insisted that he is still the Senate President.