Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday urged senators to allow independent committee work to continue amid efforts to regain control of key committees, saying ongoing hearings are vital to addressing public concerns and ensuring accountability.
Speaking during a Facebook livestream on June 2, Cayetano said recent developments in the Senate should not distract senators from addressing the issues that matter most to Filipinos, including rising prices, jobs, healthcare, education, and public accountability.
“We are listening to you, we hear you, na ang pangunahing isyu ay trabaho, kita, ang pagtaas ng presyo, at ang araw-araw na kabuhayan ng ating kababayan,” he said.
“In the next few days, we will be announcing to you the hard work that we’re going to do in the different committees to help address inflation, problema sa production sa agriculture, y’ung mga walang pera sa pagpapagamot, the problems of K to 12, sa kabuhayan ng mga kababayan natin sa Middle East,” he added.
Cayetano also assured the public that the Majority bloc is working to ensure that Senate committees remain operational amid efforts to regain control of key committees that handle hearings on corruption investigations.
“Ngayon po ang Majority, ginagamit ang rules sa tama, morally, legally, to ensure na hindi agawin ang mga committees para po matuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon sa Thursday at ang iba’t iba pang mga importanteng hearing sa bawat committee,” he said.
Among these is the Senate’s investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, which Cayetano said should continue in the interest of public accountability.
“[We cannot] allow the flood control issue, the biggest corruption issue in our history, to go unchecked,” he said.
Cayetano stressed the need for a thorough and independent inquiry as he noted the many unanswered questions on the issue such as the total number of ghost flood control projects, substandard infrastructure, and to what extent such issues exist across the country.
“Hindi po ito masasagot kung wala tayong independent, impartial na hearing,” he said.
The Senate President also reiterated the Majority’s commitment to an independent and impartial impeachment process guided by evidence and established rules.
“We want an independent impeachment. Magaganap po ‘yan na walang mga scheme, sinister plot. Basta kung ano’ng ebidensya, lalabas y’ung ebidensya,” Cayetano said.
He said both the prosecution and defense should be allowed to present their respective cases before senator-judges evaluate the evidence.
“The prosecution dapat ang lumatag ng ebidensya nila to convict. Ang defense ang dapat lumatag ng ebidensya nila para ma-acquit. Ang senator-judges naman ang dapat mag-examine ng mga ebidensya,” he said.
Cayetano maintained that the Senate must be allowed to continue its committee work and constitutional duties without losing sight of its role in uncovering the truth.
“Uulitin ko po: kailangan tingnan natin ang nangyayari sa Senado sa mas malaking konteksto ng katotohanan,” he said.