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Senators Raffy Tulfo and Pia Cayetano traded barbs during Tuesday's plenary session, August 11, over the delay in completing the membership of several Senate committees, a standoff Tulfo said was holding pending legislation "hostage."
Tulfo rose on a point of order and blamed the alleged inaction of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for the delay in confirming the membership of minority senators to the Committee on Public Services and the Committee on Migrant Workers.
He said he had coordinated with Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri over the past few weeks to fill the vacancies, but minority senators could not respond due to the alleged inaction of their leader.
Tulfo also took a swipe at Cayetano, who was absent from the session. "If you have time to go FB Live then maybe you have the time to confirm or give the go signal to your minority members," he said.
He added that the vacancies were delaying bills assigned to the panels, including proposed measures on the Department of Water and OFW reintegration.
With her brother absent, Pia Cayetano stood up to respond on his behalf.
"Senator Tulfo, you could have easily asked me. You know that Alan is my brother if you wanted to get a message across," she said. She also pushed back on Tulfo's characterization of the standoff, saying, "Alam niyo naman kapatid ko si Alan, kung gusto niyo may parating. Huwag na po kayo magdrama ng mga pa hostage hostage."
[You know my brother Alan, if you want something coursed through, there's a way. Please stop dramatizing this as a hostage situation.]
Tulfo shot back, denying he was being dramatic. "Never po ako nagdrama dito simula nung ako'y naging senador. Never ever po ako nagsinungaling," he said, adding, "Sino ang nagdadrama? Tumingin muna kayo sa salamin bago kayo magsalita."
[I have never dramatized anything since I became a senator. I have never lied. Who's being dramatic? Look in the mirror first before you speak.]
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian later clarified that 32 Senate committees have yet to convene due to incomplete membership, and assured the chamber that he and the majority leader would coordinate with the minority bloc to complete the outstanding committee assignments.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also clarified that Alan Peter Cayetano was absent from Tuesday's session because he was not feeling well.
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Date posted: August 12, 2026 4:38 PM