MANILA, Philippines — For the sake of the country, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano should accept the current Senate reorganization and just elevate his constitutional grievances to the Supreme Court (SC) afterwards, according to former Senate president Franklin Drilon.

“Under the law, we will accept this (Senate reorganization) as legal. If Cayetano says this is illegal, and Win (Gatchalian) says no, this is legal, the law says we must follow Win and let Cayetano question this before the SC. That’s the procedure,” Drilon told radio dzBB.

Meanwhile, Senate rank-and-file employees expressed deep concern over the ongoing leadership row, pleading with warring factions not to treat civil servants as “collateral casualties” in a political tug-of-war.

Cayetano, in the past days, has been speaking on Facebook Live instead of showing up in the plenary.

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Drilon pointed out that Malacañang currently recognizes Gatchalian’s faction, and because of this de facto recognition, Cayetano has no choice but to step aside and seek judicial intervention.

He also defended the executive’s involvement amid allegations that the Senate is being turned into a Malacañang “stamp pad,” asserting that presidential intervention is necessary to prevent total administrative paralysis.

The retired lawmaker warned that the political bickering cannot continue indefinitely, especially with crucial legislative work and a looming Vice Presidential impeachment trial on the horizon.

Drilon cautioned that stalling the chamber’s operations out of personal political interests serves no public good, especially with the 2028 elections approaching.

“If Chiz (Escudero) did not show up for work, nothing will happen to all of us,” he warned.

Escudero’s surprise attendance before the Senate adjourned sine die last week allowed the Gatchalian bloc to achieve a quorum and flip the upper chamber.

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Staff speak up

In a statement, the Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (S.E.N.A.D.O.), the chamber’s employees union, described an atmosphere of “heightened anxiety and apprehension” gripping the workforce following weeks of unprecedented institutional chaos.

The union lamented that the administrative tug-of-war between the blocs of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has left employees stranded without clear operating guidelines.

“This situation has been further aggravated by competing claims for the Senate leadership, which has generated confusion regarding administrative directives, work arrangements, and reporting protocols,” S.E.N.A.D.O. stated.

“Many employees have found themselves in the difficult position of determining which directives to follow in the absence of clear and uniform guidance from the institution,” it added.

The union also raised alarm over reports that permanent Senate employees who assisted the Cayetano faction during Thursday’s disputed parallel Blue Ribbon committee hearing are now facing administrative blowback.

Both Gatchalian and Tulfo previously labeled that independent hearing “unauthorized” and hinted at potential investigations into the proceedings.

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“Regardless of the political positions taken by various parties, the employees involved merely performed functions assigned to them in good faith and in accordance with their official duties and responsibilities,” the union said.

Invoking Republic Act No. 6713, S.E.N.A.D.O. emphasized that the chamber’s professional staff are bound by law and public service, not by personal political loyalties.

For his part, Tulfo issued a public apology yesterday for his recent “aggressive remarks” regarding the physical removal of Cayetano from the plenary hall, urging his colleagues to set aside their political differences and resume their legislative duties.

Tulfo expressed remorse for his recent outbursts, admitting that his behavior fell short of the standards expected of a public official.

“In recognition of the high institution to which I belong, I sincerely apologize to my colleagues for my aggressive remarks regarding the arrest, manhandling, and dragging of Sen. Cayetano and other individuals out of the session or plenary hall,” Tulfo said.

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“This is not how an official, much less a senator, should behave,” he added.

While Tulfo admitted his words were “inappropriate in public,” he explained that his frustration stemmed from a “deep desire to stop delaying the work we owe the people.”

He extended his apology to the public, acknowledging that the ongoing political tug-of-war has derailed the Senate’s true mandate.

With the upper chamber deeply fractured between the newly installed 12-member majority and Cayetano’s minority bloc, Tulfo called for an immediate end to the infighting.

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‘Swallow your pride’

Meanwhile, lawyer Antonio Bucoy, member of the Free Legal Assistance Group, has accused Cayetano of being kapit-tuko or desperately clinging to the position, and has urged him to swallow his pride and relinquish the Senate presidency.

“Why will you stick yourself there when you are illegitimate?” Bucoy told radio dzBB yesterday.

He pointed out that the House of Representatives, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the media and the clergy have already recognized the Gatchalian bloc as the new Senate majority, and the senator as the Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president.

Bucoy cited as basis for the legality of the June 3 quorum and Senate shuffle the two rulings of the Supreme Court that supposedly settled issues on quorum, particularly the Avelino v. Cuenco in 1949 and the La Carlota City v. Rojo in 2012.

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“Stop insisting on your position because you are sowing chaos. The Senate’s dignity is bruised because of you, Alan Peter… swallow your ego. Accept the truth,” he said. — Ghio Ong