Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said the country’s response to corruption, the flood control controversy, and the constitutional issues currently facing the Senate leadership will help shape the future inherited by the next generation of Filipinos.

This came after the Cayetano bloc filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the quorum declared during the June 3 Senate session and the subsequent election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and designation as Acting Senate President.

The Cayetano bloc argued that the actions were unconstitutional and contrary to Senate rules.

Speaking in a Facebook Live broadcast, Cayetano said the issues now confronting the country extend beyond personalities and political rivalries, warning that the choices made today will have consequences for generations to come.

“There are really seasons, there are really times na nasa crossroad ang bansa. At ‘pag hindi tayo kumilos, it will determine the future of the next generation,” he said.

Cayetano said the petition before the Supreme Court is not merely about Senate leadership but about protecting democratic institutions and ensuring that constitutional rules are followed.

“We have faith that the issue is something that is very important not only now but in the future. The issue will determine our kind of democracy, our kind of government,” he said.

Drawing parallels with major turning points in Philippine history, Cayetano said future generations will be affected by how the country responds to present-day controversies.

“EDSA 1 affected my generation. EDSA 2 affected the other generation. All these scandals, Napoles (pork barrel scam), ngayon flood control. How we handle it will affect the future generations,” he said.

The Senate President argued that corruption remains one of the country’s biggest obstacles to progress, citing its impact on jobs, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

“For me, the promised land is a powerful, prosperous Filipino. The empowered Filipino,” he said.

Cayetano maintained that efforts to uncover the truth behind alleged irregularities in flood control projects should continue despite political pressure and distractions.

He added that moments of national crisis often become defining tests for a nation and its institutions, making it important for leaders and citizens alike to remain guided by principle and purpose.

“What we’re doing now will affect the generation that has yet to be born,” he said. ###