Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has accepted the end of his tenure as Senate President, while vowing to continue pursuing what he described as the truth behind alleged irregularities in government flood-control spending.

In a post on Facebook ahead of an expected leadership transition in the Senate in its special session on Wednesday, June 17, Cayetano said he was grateful for the opportunity to lead the chamber and maintained that his brief stint in the post was guided by principle rather than a desire to hold power.

“I never held it as a prize to be kept, but as a weight to be carried in your service,” he said.

Cayetano thanked members of his bloc who remained loyal despite political pressure, singling out Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta for standing by the group during the leadership dispute.

While acknowledging that the opposing bloc now appeared to have enough votes to elect a new Senate President, Cayetano reiterated his position that the June 3 Senate session that led to leadership changes was conducted without the constitutionally required quorum.

“We have said from the first, and we maintain still, that what was done on June 3 was done without the quorum the Constitution requires, and was, for that reason, void,” he said.

The senator said the issue remains before the Supreme Court, where he and his allies have challenged the validity of the proceedings.

Despite his objections to the June 3 session, Cayetano said he would not block a new leadership vote if conducted with a proper quorum.

“Give the Senate a proper vote, with a true quorum, and we will respect its result. That is all we ever asked,” he said.

Cayetano also raised concerns over what he described as executive interference in the affairs of the Senate, arguing that the chamber’s independence should be protected from outside influence.

“The deeper concern was never the count alone. It was the hand that reached into this chamber from outside it,” he said, referring to what he alleged was involvement by Malacañang in the leadership contest.

The outgoing Senate chief said the leadership struggle was rooted in efforts to investigate alleged anomalies in flood-control projects, which he claimed some sectors wanted to keep hidden.

“This was never about the Senate presidency. From the very beginning it was about the truth — the truth about the flood-control funds,” he said.

Cayetano also criticized the Senate’s legislative output, noting that none of the administration’s 21 priority measures appeared headed for passage during the special session.

He said lawmakers should focus on measures addressing concerns such as the price of rice, wages, electricity costs, and corruption.

Despite the political dispute, Cayetano pledged support for legislation aimed at assisting communities in Mindanao affected by the recent earthquake, saying relief and rehabilitation efforts deserved immediate attention.

The senator ended his statement by expressing confidence that the campaign he launched would continue beyond his leadership tenure.

“Offices are temporary, titles are temporary, even majorities are temporary — but your right to the truth is not,” Cayetano said.

“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS — your Public Servant.”