Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano alleged that some members of the Senate majority had been threatened to defect to the minority bloc in an effort to reorganize the chamber’s leadership.
Speaking during a Facebook Live broadcast, Cayetano claimed that certain senators were pressured through pending legal cases.
“Wala kaming problema kung sa korte ay patunayan na sila ay guilty o hindi. Ang problema po namin yung gagamitin yung threat na pag lumipat ka dito, wala ka nang kaso. ‘Pag diyan ka, tutuluyan ka namin,” he said.
Cayetano added that some senators may choose to release evidence of the alleged threats in the coming days.
“In the next few days, option po ng mga senador na maglabas ng ebidensya ng pananakot para hindi namin mabuo yung independent na Senate,” he said.
The Senate chief described the current majority bloc as the country’s “first truly independent majority,” maintaining that Malacañang had no role in selecting the Senate president or committee chairmanships.
“Paulit-ulit sinasabing magulo ang Senate — hindi po. In this administration since 2022, it’s the first time na nagkaroon ng majority at Senate president na wala pong kamay ang Malacañang sa pagpili ng Senate president at ng mga komite,” Cayetano said.
“And so I can dare say that this is the first fully independent majority,” he added.
While in Tokyo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected suggestions that the executive branch influences the selection of Senate leaders.
“Malacañang does not give a rubber stamp to the Senate President. The Senate President is decided by the senators themselves,” Marcos said.
“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.
The allegations come amid political tensions in the Senate, where several members of the majority bloc are facing complaints and legal cases.
According to Cayetano, the independence of both the judiciary and the legislature must be protected to preserve the system of checks and balances under a democratic government.
He blamed recent disruptions in the Senate on individuals and groups allegedly uncomfortable with an independent chamber.
“Kaya, whether you talk about the 11, yung onse, or you talk about supporters nila, when you talk about some elements in the national government like the NBI, for example, sila po ang nanggugulo because hindi sila komportable na independent ang Senado,” he said.
Cayetano also defended the Senate’s handling of the controversial proposal to allow online voting, saying the minority’s walkout during Tuesday’s session was premature because senators had yet to vote on the measure itself.
“Ang pinagbobotohan po ay whether or not pag-uusapan ito,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate President announced that hearings by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control controversy would resume on June 4, one day before the 20th Congress adjourns sine die on June 5.
Senator Imee Marcos echoed concerns over what she described as executive interference in Senate affairs, alleging that efforts were being made to weaken the chamber’s oversight functions.
“It seems the intent is to paralyze us because they are afraid of what a real blue ribbon investigation will reveal. They want to render us powerless so that the Senate will become a rubber stamp for their plans,” she said.
Marcos added that recent developments raise questions about the constitutional boundaries between the legislative and executive branches of government.
