Senators refute Pia's claim minority did not check on them

Emotions are running high in the Senate a week after the May 13 gunfire incident, as minority bloc senators denied Sen. Pia Cayetano’s allegation they did not check on the majority senators locked down in the Senate that chaotic night.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Sen. Panfilo Lacson did not mince words in bristling at Cayetano’s emotional outburst during the Wednesday session, that the minority senators did not even check on their majority colleagues as gunshots rang out.

“Quote of the day: ‘No one bothered to check in on us!’ How can you check on those who were happily eating, having coffee and doing FB Live just to accuse the minority bloc of having knowledge about the gunshots in the Senate?" Lacson posted in Filipino on X.

It was a pointed jab at his colleagues, who went on Facebook Live over dinner while media were on the frontlines covering what was perceived as a shootout with the National Bureau of Investigation agents, but was eventually ruled out as gunfire initiated by suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca on retreating NBI agents.

Lacson also defended Sen. Risa Hontiveros' privilege speech criticizing the leadership of Pia's brother Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano for moving on from the incident by not discussing it during the plenary session.

The Senate President has asked for "prudence" from his colleagues during the Wednesday session, saying that the shooting incident will be tackled in the upcoming Monday session as several senators have requested to deliver speeches about the Senate's security.