Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday rejected becoming a “puppet Senate President,” warning that recent attacks on the Senate were part of a “concerted effort” to weaken and control the institution amid critical debates on impeachment, the national budget, Charter change, and democracy.
“The Legislative, the Executive, and the Judiciary have to work together, but ’yung magsu-surrender ka or maging puppet Senate President ka, sorry hindi ko style ’yon,” Cayetano said in a press conference before the start of the plenary session on May 18, 2026.
He said the Senate is being targeted because it remains the country’s “last line of defense” on key national issues.
“The Senate is a target because we are the last line of defense pagdating sa hindi impartial na impeachment, sa budget, sa Charter change, sa kung merong gustong yumurak sa ating democracy,” he said.
Cayetano said attacks on the Senate began in 2023 when proposals were raised to “abolish” the chamber. He said recent events appeared to be connected to renewed moves to amend the Constitution.
“And I really believe that the events in the last few months were also intentional na ma-weaken ang Senate because bubuhayin ’yung Constitutional change, except this time around, regional Senate ang gusto nila,” he added.
It can be remembered that Charter change proposals resurfaced in 2023, including a shift to a unicameral-parliamentary system and to restructure the Senate by adding regional senators.
The issue intensified in early 2024 during a People’s Initiative campaign, which senators warned would allow the House of Representatives and the Senate to vote jointly on constitutional amendments, effectively diluting the Senate’s vote and weakening its role as a separate chamber.
Cayetano said while he is not against political reforms, the government should first focus on the daily struggles of ordinary Filipinos.
“I don’t take it against anyone for thinking of political reforms. Pero naghihirap ang tao eh, whether you talk about electricity, prices of medicine, rice. Doon muna sana,” he said.
Asked about calls for him to resign, Cayetano said all the untoward incidents since he assumed office were part of a larger push to install someone easier to control.
“For me, it’s a concerted effort from day one to get me out because they want someone they can control,” he said.
But Cayetano said he would continue to protect the Senate’s independence while working with other branches of government.
“The only thing I promise is I follow God,” he said. “Collaboration is OK, pero y’ung sunod-sunuran kami sa inyo at hawak niyo kami sa leeg, hindi pwede ’yon.”
“Hindi niyo natibag ang Senado. Under Alan Cayetano, hindi niyo natibag ang Senado,” he said. “Now kung papalitan ako, sana hindi matibag ang Senado.”
