Senator Pia Cayetano proudly brands herself as a champion of women and OFWs. Yet when confronted in 2018 about Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial kiss of an OFW— a moment that many women found degrading— she refused to give a straight answer. The OFW’s husband would have watched horrified as the carnal Duterte, a self-confessed abuser of women, stuck his tongue out and into the mouth of of the OFW who just had to close her eyes shut and unable to do anything.
That is the Cayetano brand of politics: loud about principles when it is safe, silent when it matters. Pia and Allan preach morality and accountability, yet conveniently look away when their political allies cross the line. Their righteousness is nothing more than selective outrage wrapped in sanctimony.
Ngayong araw, nag-file ako muli ng kaso na Cyberlibel laban sa 18 ‘ex-bodyguards,’ kasama na rin sina Cayetano at Marcoleta. Ito ay ukol sa rogue Blue Ribbon hearing na ginawa nila. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang pagsasampa ko ng kaso sa mga ito hanggat patuloy ang kanilang pagsisinungaling.
Remembering PNoy: A Selfless Leader and Public Servant
One of my regrets in life is that I was not able to talk to PNoy more after his term ended because of the circumstances beyond my control.
I was unjustly detained in 2017 based on trumped-up charges filed against me by the Duterte administration. Although he was able to visit me several times, our time to catch up was very limited. Alam ng mga nakakakilala kay PNoy na kulang na kulang ang ilang oras sa mga kwento at jokes pa lang nya.
I was still in detention when PNoy died in 2021. It was deeply saddening to have lost a great leader and dear friend. What made it even more heartbreaking was that I was not able to attend his wake to pay my final respects.
Today is even more meaningful as I also remember that exactly two years ago, I was finally cleared of all the bogus charges against me. Hindi ko man sya personal nang mapapasalamatan, pero kasama lagi sa aking dasal at pag-alala sa kanya ang lubos kong pasasalamat sa pagbibigay nya ng lakas at pagpaparamdam sa akin noon na hindi ako nag-iisa.
His exemplary leadership and enduring legacy will forever remain a source of inspiration and strength.
Maraming pwedeng masabi tungkol kay PNoy, pero maaari ko itong maibuod sa pagiging mabuti, kwela, simple, mapagmalasakit at higit sa lahat, pagiging tapat niyang lider na inalay ang sarili para magsilbi sa mga Pilipino at pahalagahan ang interes ng Pilipinas.
He stood firm in serving Filipinos with honesty and accountability, and he was unwavering in his loyalty to, and love for our country.
Pinangunahan nya ang paglilingkod hindi lang sa pagbabawal ng wangwang, hindi lang sa hindi nya pagnanakaw, kundi pati na sa pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali – gaano man ka-impluwensya o kataas ang katungkulan.
Yan din ang ipinakita nyang tapang at paninindigan sa pagtatanggol sa ating soberanya at teritoryo, kahit dambuhalang bansa man ang ating nakabangga.
Sa harap man ng Gabinete o ng kanyang mga staff, sa mga kwentuhan at mga pag-uusap na lingid sa publiko o sa media, makikita’t mararamdaman mo kung gaano katotoo ang kanyang puso sa pagsisikap na maipatupad ang positibong pagbabago, para “iwan ang Pilipinas na di hamak nasa mas magandang kalagayan kaysa kanyang dinatnan.”
Salamat, PNoy. Itutuloy namin ang laban na buong puso, buong lakas, buong sigasig, buong katapatan at buong buhay mong itinaguyod para sa ating bayan at mga kababayan.
We miss you, Sir…
📸 Jes Aznar/The New York Times
Remembering this man in a special way today.
I will always be grateful for his service to the nation he loved and I will always be thankful that I played even just a small part in his administration.
Rest in Power, Mr. President. I miss your kind of leadership.
#SalamatPNoy
@GemoraAudie@zennyelsie That might explain why she seems to have a beef with Sen. Risa.
Honteveros was one of those who were fighting against POGO and alice guo in the senate.
The pathological liar Allan Peter Cayetano should be hanged, not in the physical sense, but politically in order to prevent him from ever coming back to relevancy.
Cayetano’s brief tenure as Senate President has become a case study in how not to lead an institution. In less than a month, the Senate burned through hundreds of millions in taxpayers’ money while producing little of legislative consequence. The numbers speak for themselves: sessions held, press conferences staged, Facebook Lives streamed—yet no bills passed.
Instead, the public witnessed chaos, political maneuvering, a constitutional crisis, the fallout from the Bato dela Rosa escape from the law, a Senate shooting scandal, obstruction of justice, and repeated attempts to turn the Upper Chamber into a battleground for factional interests.
A Senate President is supposed to safeguard the institution, uphold its constitutional mandate, and ensure that the people’s business is conducted. Cayetano’s leadership became synonymous with disruption, destabilisation, grandstanding, and political calculation. The Senate was not strengthened under his watch. It was dragged into controversy after controversy.
History will not measure his presidency by the number of livestreams, soundbites, or press conferences. It will measure it by results. Taxpayers have every right to ask what exactly they received in return for the enormous public expense.
The tragedy is not merely that his term was the shortest. It is that so much institutional damage, division, and distraction were packed into such a short period. He made the Senate a playground for personal ambitions, venue for repayment of political debts, and the protection of impunity. Allan Peter Cayetano should be hanged!
“KAPATID NI ZALDY CO ANG KA-JOINT VENTURE? KUNG ‘DI ITO MAG-DELIVER BY JUNE, KANSELAHIN MO ’TO.”
WATCH: DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon expressed dismay after inspecting the status of projects at the Philippine General Hospital, which he said were extremely delayed.
The DPWH said the contractor, Edison and its JV partner FS Co Builders & Supply, owned by Farida Co, sister of fugitive ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, reported a dismal 17% completion rate for its repair of PGH facilities contract despite starting in 2024. | via @andietagz
(📹: DPWH)
Despite their mandate to attend in special session, these senators are still absent:
Cayetano, Alan Peter
Cayetano, Pilar “Pia”
Marcos, Imee
Marcoleta, Rodante
Padilla, Robin
Villar, Mark
Villar, Camille
Legarda, Loren
Go, Christopher “Bong”
Remember them and do not vote again.
Senator Pia Cayetano seems less interested in clarifying the bill and more interested in undermining Senator Risa Hontiveros. The problem is that the very points she keeps insisting are “not written” are actually in the bill and have already been explained repeatedly during the sponsorship and interpellation.
A healthy debate is supposed to illuminate issues, not create confusion where none exists. Instead of listening to the answers being given, Pia repeatedly interrupts, talks over the sponsor, and turns what should be a constructive exchange into an unnecessary spectacle.
Parliamentary courtesy exists for a reason. It allows senators to disagree without sacrificing respect and decorum. Senator Risa maintained her composure throughout the discussion, but it was difficult not to notice the constant interruptions and confrontational tone coming from the other side.
Debate is welcome. Disagreement is welcome. But basic respect should never be optional.
Frankly, the lack of parliamentary courtesy was glaring. It came across as rude, disrespectful, and completely unnecessary.
BREAKING: Si Senator Sherwin Gatchalian na ang bagong Senate President matapos mahalal sa isang special session ngayong Miyerkules, June 17.
LIVE: https://t.co/nBxQ2eVUQx