SENATE President Alan Peter Cayetano revealed that some members of the majority bloc are preparing to present evidence showing threats they allegedly received from the administration, aimed at forcing them to defect to the minority and form a new majority and leadership.
He made the statement during a Facebook live broadcast on Friday, where he directly accused Malacañang of intimidating his allies. “We have no problem if the courts prove whether someone is guilty or not. Our concern is the use of threats — telling them that if they switch sides, their cases will be dropped, but if they stay, they will be pursued,” Cayetano said. He added, “In the next few days, senators have the option to present proof of these intimidation attempts, all intended to stop us from forming an independent Senate.”
Cayetano described the current Senate majority as the “first truly independent majority” in the country’s recent history, pushing back against criticisms that the Senate has become disorderly under his leadership. “They keep saying the Senate is chaotic — but it is not. Since 2022, this is the first time we have had a majority and a Senate President where Malacañang had no hand in choosing the leadership or committee heads,” he emphasized. According to Cayetano, this independence is a vital feature of democracy, ensuring that the legislative and judicial branches remain free from executive influence to maintain proper checks and balances in government.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., speaking from Tokyo, responded to claims by Senator Rodante Marcoleta that the current Senate leadership is the only one without the President’s blessing. “Malacañang does not give a rubber stamp to the Senate President. The Senate President is decided by the senators themselves,” Marcos stated. “Is he implying that somehow I choose the Senate President? Ask me as a former senator, and I will laugh in your face,” he added, dismissing the allegation of executive interference.
The political tension comes amid a wave of high‑profile cases filed against sitting senators. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, a member of the majority, faces plunder and graft charges over alleged ₱573 million in insertions, allocations, and kickbacks related to flood control projects; he has since posted ₱90,000 bail for the graft case. The Ombudsman has also signaled that Acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva will be the next to face complaints in court, while Senators Francis Escudero and Rodante Marcoleta are also facing plunder allegations.
Cayetano pointed out that if anyone is to blame for the recent turmoil in the chamber, it is those who are “not comfortable with having an independent Senate.” He specifically cited certain groups and agencies, including the NBI, as sources of disruption. “Whether you refer to the ‘Solid 11’ or their supporters, or even some elements in the national government like the NBI, they are the ones causing trouble because they are not comfortable with an independent Senate,” he said. He also clarified that the Senate has not yet voted on allowing teleconferencing or online voting, noting that the recent discussions only concerned whether or not to open debate on the proposed rule amendments.
