Battle over Senate mace turns lethal

The battle for the Senate leadership turned violent yesterday after the faction of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano convened a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry in defiance of a rival bloc’s decision to suspend the crucial panel's hearings until Monday.

A physical confrontation between Senator Robinhood Padilla and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla erupted as they made their way toward the second floor of the Senate building.

Tensions flared after Remulla and some members of the chamber security tried to stop Senators Pia Cayetano and Padilla from escorting a group of supposed former military personnel into the building.

The confrontation happened moments before Cayetano was supposed to resume the Blue Ribbon Committee's inquiry into the flood control fund controversy.

Remulla attempted to physically block Padilla and Padilla's group from proceeding toward the Senate plenary hall, where the hearing was scheduled.

At one point, Remulla and Padilla engaged in a shouting match as they made their way toward the second floor of the Senate building.

With the help of Cayetano and Padilla, the 18 Marines eventually forced their way into the Senate and proceeded to the plenary hall.

Remulla denied any intent to obstruct. "I was walking out when I was pushed aside," he said. "How can I do that? I was alone."

Alan Peter’s show

At the hearing, Cayetano maintained that he remains the legitimate head of the Senate despite a leadership shake-up that saw Senator Win Gatchalian take the oath as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president.

Cayetano made the remarks during a press conference on the Senate floor alongside Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

Opening his statement, Cayetano said that while he may have a "kingdom," he has never acted as a king.

“A Senate controlled by Malacañang is not a true Senate,” he said.

He was referring to Wednesday's Senate proceedings, during which committee leadership positions were declared vacant and reassigned, including the Blue Ribbon Committee now headed by Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

“Things are happening behind the scenes. That's why I say res ipsa loquitur. Read between the lines and you'll understand what happened,” Cayetano said.

“But what is the reality? The reality is, I was elected by 13. The Constitution,” he added, stressing that a Senate president cannot be removed without 13 votes.

“Second, even assuming they had a quorum, they still need 13 votes to remove the Senate President and the Senate President Pro Tempore. Even if they declared all seats vacant, I actually laughed because Senator Win did not know that you cannot declare all seats vacant with only 12 votes,” he said.

Cayetano argued that while committee positions may be declared vacant with 12 votes, the positions of Senate president and Senate president pro tempore cannot.

He also dismissed criticism that his bloc's three-day absence meant they were refusing to work.

“Look at Bam Aquino's post. When [they] walked out, it was for the country. When we didn't show up, we were accused of not wanting to work,” he said.

“When they held a session, they had 12 senators. They said they had a quorum, so what did they do? They adjourned sine die. [T]hat shows they're talking about power. We're talking about what is right,” he added.

Jabs for rival

Cayetano also criticized Gatchalian for accepting the role of acting Senate president.

“He's exercising all kinds of immaturity in our democracy. He agreed that 12 senators were enough. He agreed to become acting Senate president when the rules clearly state that you can only have an acting Senate president if the Senate president has died or if there is no Senate president,” he said.

He likewise questioned Gatchalian's coordination with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Senate security matters.

“What image of the Senate are we projecting? For those who lived through martial law, do we want to bring back that image? It was a different time and different circumstances,” he said.

“[T]hey have to deal with it. I have to deal with it. I have to assert my authority as Senate president.”

Cayetano also appealed to Senate employees, saying they know who is telling the truth.

“It's between power and truth. The truth is, and all of you know this by heart, there are 24 senators. You need 13 for a quorum and for a majority,” he said.

‘VP Sara not my boss’

Cayetano denied allegations that he was acting on behalf of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“First of all, Vice President Sara is not my boss,” he said.

He acknowledged that he is friends with Duterte but said they do not always agree politically.

“They say they have no issue with my impartiality. So why are they making these accusations? The point is, for their convenience, should the media, the Constitution, and the Senate bend backward? I don't think so. I think they should follow the law,” he said.

‘I’m praying for him.’

Asked about Sen. Chiz Escudero's decision to attend Wednesday's session, Cayetano said: “I'm praying for him. I know his circumstances.”

He said every senator is facing personal challenges.

“You know what's hardest for me? [S]eeing a man cry. I'm a man too. In my entire life, I only saw my father cry twice — during the EDSA Revolution and one other time,” he said.

“When my father passed away, and tears started falling from my eyes, my uncle told me, ‘You're the man of the house; you have to take charge.’”

“So when I see a fellow senator crying, facing cases, believing he is not guilty but being pressured to comply, that weighs heavily on me,” he added.

“I won't name names. I will be praying for him. I love him as a brother.”

“I know what Heart has gone through. I know he's a father whose child is asking what is happening. So I'm praying for him.”

Next chapter

Cayetano also revisited remarks by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada earlier this week about alleged offers to keep senators from leaving the majority bloc.

“Those [people] are in the Cabinet, offering him a deal that his cases would disappear as long as he did not leave,” Cayetano claimed.

He said a similar situation allegedly happened to Sen. Loren Legarda in February.

“These eleven senators have been meeting with Malacañang. What happened yesterday was coordinated. I'll stop there because it's already obvious,” he said.

“That's the problem. The President keeps getting the wrong information.”

Palace recognizes Gatchalian

Malacañang maintained that it recognizes only Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President, not Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, citing a 1949 Supreme Court decision.

“The minority now is the group of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. So who should prevail—the minority or the majority?