By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday questioned the credibility of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano after the latter allegedly sought a “ceasefire” with the Senate majority before publicly denying that any such request was made.
The issue stems from Lacson’s allegations of irregularities involving infrastructure projects in Taguig City, a political stronghold of Cayetano.
During a radio interview, Lacson claimed Cayetano had privately reached out to at least five senators from the majority bloc, asking them to relay his appeal to end the ongoing conflict and allow the chamber to focus on legislative priorities.
Lacson said he was surprised when Cayetano later denied making the proposal, prompting him to question the former Senate leader’s sincerity.
According to Lacson, the overtures began last week and continued into this week, with Cayetano allegedly asking several senators to convey his request. He added that the matter was later discussed during a caucus of the Senate majority.
Lacson said he initially wanted to see evidence of good faith before considering any ceasefire proposal, but Cayetano’s public denial, he said, undermined that possibility.
The senator also cited another incident involving Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Erwin Tulfo. Lacson claimed Cayetano had privately urged Tulfo to suspend hearings on the alleged flood control controversy but later appeared to distance himself from that request when speaking to reporters.
Lacson further recalled helping Cayetano during his first Senate campaign by assisting efforts to disqualify a namesake candidate whose candidacy could have caused voter confusion.
Reacting to Cayetano’s call for senators to refocus on lawmaking, Lacson argued that it was Cayetano’s actions in May that disrupted Senate operations in the first place.
He maintained that the Senate has since returned to normal legislative work under its current leadership, citing the organization of committees, the resumption of hearings, and preparations for pending measures.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Lacson said he has already met with officials of the Department of Finance to discuss the panel’s legislative agenda.
elamigo/xf
