By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson said most Senate presidents he has worked with over the years demonstrated statesmanship and professionalism during leadership transitions, except for one whom he blamed for triggering institutional instability in the chamber.
In a post on social media, Lacson reflected on several leadership changes in the Senate, recalling transitions from former Senate President Franklin Drilon to Manny Villar in 2006, Villar to Juan Ponce Enrile in 2008, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to Vicente “Tito” Sotto III in 2018, Francis Escudero to Sotto in September 2025, Sotto to Alan Peter Cayetano in May 2026, and most recently, the election of Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president on June 17, 2026.
According to Lacson, previous Senate leaders relinquished their posts with dignity and respect for the institution, ensuring smooth transitions of power.
However, he said the most recent leadership dispute departed from that tradition, resulting in what he described as legislative paralysis and internal conflict within the chamber.
Lacson pointed to the circumstances surrounding Cayetano’s election as Senate president in May, noting that Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s return to the Senate after months of absence provided the decisive vote that secured Cayetano’s victory.
The senator further claimed that the Senate became embroiled in a series of controversies during Cayetano’s brief tenure, which lasted less than a month.
He also cited the boycott of Senate sessions by Cayetano and several allies from June 1 to June 3, a move that temporarily disrupted legislative proceedings.
Despite being replaced during subsequent Senate sessions and the eventual election of Gatchalian as Senate president, Lacson said Cayetano continued to assert his claim to the position and sought judicial intervention to challenge the leadership change.
Lacson added that the leadership dispute extended beyond the Senate floor, with public exchanges and criticisms continuing through social media platforms.
The senator emphasized the importance of preserving institutional stability and respecting established democratic processes, saying leadership transitions should strengthen rather than divide the Senate.
He maintained that the chamber’s history has largely been marked by orderly transfers of leadership and expressed hope that future transitions would continue to reflect the same level of professionalism and statesmanship.
ia/xf
