Alan Peter Cayetano is a ‘disgrace to the Senate’ — Negros lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV called Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano a “disgrace to the Senate” after Cayetano led a two-day boycott that left the upper chamber paralyzed.

Ledesma took to social media Wednesday night to voice his frustration with Cayetano over his bloc’s absence from plenary sessions since Monday, a move he orchestrated that stalled Senate business ahead of a congressional break.

“SEN. ALAN PETER CAYETANO – YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE SENATE. FOR TRIVIALIZING YOUR DUTY AS A LEGISLATOR – I WILL URGE THE LGUs OF THE 1ST DISTRICT OF NEGROS OCC. TO DECLARE YOU PERSONA NON GRATA,” Ledesdma wrote in a Facebook post.

“This is my ASK OF OUR DISTRICT, AND I WILL GET THIS.”

READ: Senate chief Cayetano nixes resignation call: If you have 13, it’s yours

A dispute between the majority and minority blocs in the 24-member Senate has been brewing ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. It intensified in the past week after members of Cayetano’s bloc pushed to allow attendance via teleconference.

The bloc opposing Cayetano’s group viewed the move as an attempt to let his allies participate in proceedings while staying away from sessions.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has gone into hiding over fears of arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant, while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was detained on a plunder charge linked to the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

Their absences left the Senate deadlocked at 11-11, an impasse broken on Wednesday when Sen. Francis Escudero joined the plenary session and backed a motion voiding all leadership posts.

READ: Alan Peter Cayetano ‘no longer SP’ – Senate majority

Ledesma said Cayetano had repeated the tactics he used to cling to power when he was speaker of the House of Representatives.

“AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE HOUSE— YOU’VE DONE THIS TWICE,” he said.

In 2020, Cayetano was unceremoniously ousted as leader of the House after refusing to step down under a deal with then-Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, triggering a leadership crisis in which the plenary floor was locked, electricity was cut, and internet access was disrupted. /mcm