Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday said the ongoing Senate leadership dispute is rooted in efforts to pursue accountability over the alleged flood control scandal, rejecting claims that the conflict is mainly about political power.
Cayetano argued that the controversy over Senate leadership is being used to divert attention from efforts to scrutinize flood control spending and the Senate’s role in investigating the issue. He maintained that accountability, rather than political power, remains at the center of the conflict.
“The real issue is why there is such determination to keep the truth about the flood control scandal from coming out,” Cayetano said, questioning what he described as attempts to control committees, pressure lawmakers, and distract the public from ongoing inquiries.
The senator stressed that Senate committees should remain venues for rigorous investigations and not become mechanisms for delaying or weakening accountability efforts.
He emphasized that the Senate’s investigative powers are a public trust granted by the Filipino people.
Addressing speculation that he and his allies are seeking to gain control of the chamber, Cayetano said the leadership issue could be settled quickly if power were the primary objective.
“We did not take this position to seize power. This is not Game of Thrones. If it were only a contest for the throne, then let 13 senators choose another Senate President tomorrow,” he said.
Cayetano also alleged that influential political and business interests are attempting to shield themselves from scrutiny.
He claimed that the alleged flood control controversy has drawn widespread public attention because of its scale and impact on communities across the country.
According to the senator, the alleged misuse of public funds has affected not only infrastructure projects but also resources that could have been allocated to schools, hospitals, and other essential services.
He said the consequences extend beyond partisan politics and affect all Filipinos.
“The victims are not the dilawan or the DDS, not administration or opposition, not one party or another. They are simply Filipinos,” Cayetano said.
Meanwhile, the August Twenty-One Movement criticized Cayetano’s use of the “Laban” sign, a symbol historically associated with opposition to the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Members of the group gathered at the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Sunday to protest what they described as the symbol’s appropriation amid the ongoing political dispute.
Despite criticism, Cayetano insisted that public attention should remain focused on uncovering the truth behind the alleged corruption issues rather than the political contest within the Senate.
He added that while the question of Senate leadership would eventually be resolved, demands for accountability over the alleged flood control scandal would persist.
“Long after the question of Senate leadership is resolved, the corruption will remain. The floodwaters will continue to rise when it rains. The missing funds will still have to be accounted for. The Filipino people will still demand answers,” he said.
