Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson stated on Thursday, June 18, 2026, that approximately P700 million of taxpayers' money was wasted during the 28-day leadership of ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
In a social media post, Lacson enumerated events that transpired under Cayetano's watch, including a shooting incident inside the Senate building, the escape of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa while under Senate protective custody, a boycott of plenary sessions by the Cayetano bloc, and unauthorized committee hearings.
'The Philippine Senate in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano: Estimated Cost - P700M. Output - chaos, gunfire, Bato's escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its protective custody, session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator. What a waste of taxpayers' money!' Lacson said.
Lacson, who is part of the now majority bloc, expressed hope for a fresh start under Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. 'This is a fresh start. And I hope everybody will cooperate, including the members of the minority,' he said.
Cayetano was elected Senate President on May 11 following the surprise comeback of Dela Rosa, who had been absent since November 2025. Upon Dela Rosa's return, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) attempted to arrest him based on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity related to former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war.
To prevent Dela Rosa's arrest, the Cayetano leadership placed him under protective custody while he exhausted his legal remedies against apprehension. On the evening of May 13, a shooting occurred inside the Senate building. Investigators said Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca, Dela Rosa's classmate, initiated the shooting after spotting NBI personnel in the GSIS building, adjacent to the Senate building.
Dela Rosa left the Senate premises before dawn on May 14, hours after the shooting, causing chaos in the chamber. Senator Robin Padilla, who accompanied Dela Rosa, was recommended by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to be charged with obstruction of justice.
Days after the standoff, the Supreme Court resolved Dela Rosa's petition, prompting the Department of Justice on May 21 to order the Philippine National Police (PNP) and NBI to arrest Dela Rosa. On June 3, Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro-Tempore and acting Senate President before the session adjourned sine die.
Gatchalian was installed after Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, who belonged to the then-majority bloc led by Cayetano, attended the plenary session following a three-day boycott. Maintaining that Cayetano was still Senate President, Senator Pia Cayetano, claiming to be the legitimate chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, pushed through a hearing on anomalous flood control projects with the so-called 18-ex marines as resource persons.
Tension erupted anew after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla allegedly tried to stop the resource persons from entering the Senate premises. In a press conference earlier that day, Gatchalian stood firm that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is already headed by Senator Erwin Tulfo, not Senator Pia Cayetano.
On June 17, Gatchalian was formally elected Senate President after achieving a quorum of 13 lawmakers, following the attendance of Senator Joel Villanueva, formerly a member of the Cayetano bloc.
