Senator Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged that he would no longer remain Senate president after Senator Joel Villanueva decided to join the new majority bloc, giving it enough votes to elect a new leader of the Upper Chamber.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Cayetano said he would not obstruct the election of a new Senate president once the majority formally secures the numbers.
“After speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President. I will not stand in the way of that vote,” Cayetano said.
He emphasized that leadership positions are temporary and extended his congratulations and cooperation to whoever would be lawfully elected by the chamber.
Cayetano thanked the public for the opportunity to serve as Senate president and vowed to continue pursuing what he described as the truth behind alleged irregularities involving flood-control funds.
“This was never about the Senate presidency. From the very beginning it was about the truth — the truth about the flood-control funds, the billions meant to shield our towns and our families from the waters, the protection that was paid for and never came,” he said.
He also pledged to continue supporting legislative measures, particularly those aimed at helping Mindanao recover from the recent earthquake.
Cayetano expressed gratitude to Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, whom he credited for standing by him despite political pressures.
At the same time, he said he harbored no resentment toward those who chose to align with the new majority, although he lamented what he described as growing tolerance for corruption and political expediency.
Cayetano challenged the Senate to focus on passing substantial legislation, warning against using the special session merely to legitimize a new Senate leadership.
The senator was effectively removed from the Senate presidency during the June 3 session, when 12 senators present declared all leadership positions vacant and elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore. Cayetano and his allies were absent during the proceedings.
Despite the move, Cayetano had maintained that he remained the legitimate Senate president.
On June 16, a day before the special session of Congress, Cayetano and eight other senators filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to nullify the June 3 Senate session.
