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Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has dismissed as politically motivated the criticism raised by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson over the reported P700 million spent by the Senate during Cayetano's 28-day tenure as Senate President.
Lacson had taken to social media to question the spending under Cayetano's leadership, E×ρréššing regret over the P700 million allegedly used during those 28 days. Cayetano, however, pushed back against the framing of the figures.
"Sabi ni Sen. Lacson. Sayang ang pera. Nung si Alan Cayetano ang Senate President, 700 million ang nagastos." [Sen. Lacson said it was a waste of money — that 700 million was spent when Alan Cayetano was Senate President.]
Cayetano argued that the math used by Lacson simply reflected the Senate's regular daily operating cost and was not specific to his leadership. He pointed out that dividing the P700 million by 28 days yields P25 million per day, which he said aligned with what Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian had independently cited as the institution's standard daily budget.
"Multiply mo ang 25 million na sinabi ni Senator Win na gastos ng Senate a day, i-multiply mo yun sa 28 days... 700 divided by 28 days is 25 million." [Multiply the 25 million that Senator Win cited as the Senate's daily expense by 28 days... 700 divided by 28 days is 25 million.]
Gatchalian, for his part, confirmed that the Senate's daily operating budget comes to approximately P24.24 million, noting that the institution employs around 2,000 people and maintains a large physical facility.
"Kinompute namin ang budget ng Senado per day is about 24 point 24 million no? Almost 25 million no just to operate the Senate." [We computed the Senate's budget per day and it's about 24.24 million — almost 25 million just to operate the Senate.]
Cayetano went further, accusing certain colleagues of orchestrating a coordinated effort to discredit him, naming Senators Rafi Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Lacson as part of what he described as a tag-team smear campaign.
"Nireveal niya, parang pang-intriga, di ba? Kasi magaling naman talaga silang mang-intriga. Nagt-take turns lang naman po." [What he revealed was like political intrigue, right? Because they are truly skilled at it. They just take turns.]
He alleged the intent behind these moves was to divert attention from what he called the "whole truth about corruption in our country."
As of posting, none of the senators named by Cayetano had issued a response to his statements.
Meanwhile, Senate President Gatchalian signaled that the chamber was ready to move past the leadership drama, saying the "Senateflix" era was over and that it was time to get back to work.
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Date posted: June 19, 2026 3:42 PM