Cayetano tells Senate staff: Choose ‘with conscience’ whom to follow

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday warned that Senate staff members who would not allow resource persons during his bloc’s scheduled hearings would be punished, asking them to choose “with conscience” who they intend to follow: him or the acting Senate president.

Cayetano said this during Thursday’s Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, particularly during the oath-taking of invited resource speakers. 

At this point, Cayetano’s bloc was still fighting to get their resource speakers into the hearing after Senate president pro tempore Win Gatchalian earlier declared that, as there was no official business at the Senate, no resource persons would be allowed inside the session hall.

READ: Gatchalian: No hearing, no resource persons allowed in session hall

But with Cayetano’s bloc deciding to push through with the scheduled hearing, this meant some resource speakers were stuck outside Senate premises — eventually prompting Cayetano to issue a warning to Senate staff.

“I would like to remind even our own employees that if you interrupt or disturb our hearing, it is a criminal offense, and not allowing our resource person in will be included in the punishment,” said Cayetano.

Cayeteno seemingly softened, however, after the conclusion of the hearing, this time leaving it to the staff (and their conscience) as to whether they would follow him and his authority as Senate president, or Gatchalian, who serves as the acting president.

“Osaa, secretariat, all employees, I’m sorry to put this on you. Not at the penalty of dismissal or cases. No, I don’t work like that. But it’s in your conscience,” said Cayetano in a press conference after the hearing.

“You know the law. Who will you follow? The fake acting president or the one our Constitution says is the Senate president?” he added.

The Senate blue ribbon hearing set for Thursday was supposed to be canceled after a Senate leadership change on Wednesday effectively changed seats in the upper chamber.

Gatchalian became Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate chief, while Sen. Erwin Tulfo replaced Sen. Pia Cayetano as chair of the blue ribbon committee.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano insisted, however, that he continued to be Senate president under the 1987 Constitution, and his allies were choosing to proceed with the scheduled hearing on Thursday, still presided over by his sister, Pia. /mr /atm