By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson criticized Senator Pia Cayetano over her statement that members of the minority bloc failed to check on majority senators following the shooting incident inside the Senate complex on May 13.
In a post on X on Thursday, Lacson reacted to Cayetano’s emotional remarks delivered during Wednesday’s Senate session, where she lamented that no one from the minority reached out to them after the incident.
“Quote of the day: ‘No one checked on us!’” Lacson wrote, questioning the accusation directed at the minority bloc.
He added that it would have been difficult for senators from the minority to check on the majority lawmakers because they appeared calm and comfortable while sheltering during the incident.
According to Lacson, photos and videos circulating online showed senators eating meals, drinking coffee, and even streaming on Facebook Live while gunfire was reportedly occurring inside the Senate premises.
The exchange further exposed tensions between the Senate majority and minority blocs in the aftermath of the shooting incident that rattled the Senate compound earlier this month.
During Wednesday’s session, Cayetano became emotional while responding to concerns raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros regarding the Senate’s handling of the crisis and the institution’s response afterward.
Some members of the majority bloc earlier questioned why several minority senators were absent from the caucus held on the night of the incident, with some implying that the minority may have received prior warnings about what would happen.
Minority senators strongly denied the insinuation, explaining that they had already left the Senate after office hours or attended previously scheduled commitments elsewhere.
Senator Erwin Tulfo also disputed Cayetano’s claim that no one checked on the majority of senators after the incident.
Tulfo said members of both the majority and minority blocs remained in communication through a shared WhatsApp group chat following the shooting.
Meanwhile, the majority bloc also faced criticism online after images and video clips surfaced showing several senators smiling and sharing food while staying inside a secured room during the lockdown prompted by the gunfire incident.
ia/xf
