Cayetano, Lacson trade barbs anew

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday accused Sen. Panfilo Lacson of bending the law, as he questioned the latter’s alleged attempt to block the Senate’s resumption of the flood control probe.

This latest remark from Cayetano, however, was met with mockery from Lacson.

“Poor guy. He still can’t move on. I think that’s what you call being stuck in a time warp,” Lacson said in a Viber message.

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In a Facebook live, Cayetano explained why his group in the Senate minority has been pushing for another hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which has been tasked to look into the flood control mess.

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Several lawmakers, including senators previously allied to Cayetano’s group, were implicated in the controversy during the investigation of the committee under Lacson’s leadership.

“This is not just for the former Marines or the new witnesses. It is also for the many government officials who were mentioned but were never called to testify. Instead, Senator Lacson ended up testifying on their behalf,” Cayetano said.

He was referring to former congressman Zaldy Co’s alleged bagmen, who claimed to have delivered cash-filled suitcases to several government officials.

“It’s a pity, Senator Lacson. If only you had pursued it, your lifelong fight against corruption could have become your defining legacy. Who knows? You might even have been the people’s choice for president in the next election,” Cayetano chided Lacson.

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“But no, you ruined it. You ruined it yourself. Instead, you bent the law. There was an agenda. And who were you protecting? Why? After all these years?” he asked.

The minority leader further alleged how Lacson had supposedly directed the flood control probe, steering away from Malacanang.

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“So the blue ribbon committee became a tool to twist the law, instead of being used to uncover the truth,” he said.

Lacson was removed  as head of the blue ribbon panel after Cayetano’s group ousted then-Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on May 11.

Cayetano’s leadership, however, only lasted for a few weeks as he was ousted and replaced by incumbent Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian last June 17.

His short stint supposedly cost an estimated P700 million worth of wasted taxpayers’ money as chaos, gunfire, and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s escape marred his leadership, according to Lacson.

Cayetano later hit back at Lacson, calling the new chairman of the blue ribbon panel, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, his lapdog. /apl

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(NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.)