(Editorial)
THE escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from the Senate premises is not merely a security lapse; it is a massive institutional failure, and the primary person accountable is no other than Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
As the highest official of the Senate, Cayetano swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, maintain order, and ensure that the law reigns supreme within the chamber.
However, under his watch, the Senate was transformed from a legislative chamber into a shelter, and eventually an escape route, for a senator facing an international arrest warrant. This exposes a critical failure: under Cayetano, the Senate chose political alliances over its duty to the people and the law.
From the very beginning, Cayetano’s handling of the situation was questionable at best and complicit at worst.
Instead of facilitating due process or ensuring that the Senate did not become an obstacle to justice, he openly allowed Dela Rosa to stay inside the compound, effectively granting him sanctuary against legal processes. When the situation escalated into chaos — with gunshots fired, power outages, and a lockdown — Cayetano stood as the authority in charge.
The fact that Dela Rosa was able to slip out unnoticed at 2:30 a.m., amidst heavy security presence and intense media attention, suggests that this was not a simple oversight. It points to a breakdown of command, or worse, a deliberate arrangement made possible because the leadership looked the other way. Cayetano cannot claim ignorance; as the head of the Senate, the security measures, the movement of personnel, and the integrity of the premises are directly under his mandate.
Worse still are the emerging reports linking key allies of Cayetano to the escape. Senator Robin Padilla, a staunch supporter of Cayetano’s rise to the Senate presidency, was identified as the last person with Dela Rosa before his departure.
The acting Senate Sergeant‑at‑Arms, Mao Aplasca — an official who serves under the direction of the Senate President — was at the center of the shooting incident and the security operations that created the perfect distraction for the escape.
Now, with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Padilla being investigated over attempts to control CCTV evidence, the web of complicity grows tighter. Cayetano’s failure is not just that he failed to secure the building; his failure lies in allowing the institution to be used as a stage to evade justice, and in failing to exercise the necessary oversight to ensure that laws apply to everyone — including senators.
This incident will forever mark Alan Peter Cayetano’s short tenure as Senate President as a time when the Senate lost its moral and legal compass.
By allowing Dela Rosa to escape, he has sent a chilling message to the public: that there are two sets of rules in this country — one for the powerful and well‑connected, and another for ordinary citizens. If the Senate President cannot protect the integrity of his own institution or ensure that its members respect legal warrants, then he has failed in his most basic duty. True leadership is not about protecting allies; it is about protecting the Constitution. I
n this case, Cayetano clearly chose the former, and in doing so, he compromised the dignity of the Senate and let the Filipino people down.
