Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano reiterates that the change of Senate leadership is not intended to delay the impeachment proceedings.

“Pero nakita niyo naman po, Wednesday night, nung nakuha natin yung articles of impeachment kahit na may kaguluhan sa Senate, tinapos po natin. Hindi totoo at propaganda lang at paninira sa bagong majority na yung impeachment ang main reason ng pagpapalit,” he said

[“But as you can see, Wednesday night, when we received the articles of impeachment, amidst the trouble in Senate, we accomplished. It’s not true, and just propaganda, and a dishonor to the new majority to those who are claiming that the impeachment is the main reason for change.”]

The Senate President clarified that the recalibration is intended to address social issues, such as the oil crisis, which he claimed the previous leadership didn’t pay attention to.

“Ah marami tayong pag-uusapan kung bakit pinalitan ang ah majority. Kasama diyan yung direksyon. Tingin ko po hindi natututukan ng husto yung present crisis ng ating bansa. Fuel crisis, crisis po sa energy, crisis po sa trust sa gobyerno. And I'm not talking about the administration alone. Trust in the legislature, in the House, the Senate,” he said

[“We’ll talk about a lot of things why the majority has changed. That includes direction. I think the present crisis in our country has not been totally addressed. Fuel crisis, crisis in energy, crisis of trust in the government. And I'm not talking about the administration alone. Trust in the legislature, in the House, the Senate.”]

He also clarified that the trouble in the Senate is beyond their control.

“Hindi po magulo ang Senado. Look at our sessions since I took my oath. Lahat ng session very orderly, puno ng substance, at sumusunod kami. Yung panggugulo ay nangyayari, before or after the session, and was beyond our control.”

[“The Senate is not disorganized. Look at our sessions since I took my oath. All sessions were very orderly, full of substance, and we followed. The trouble happened before or after the session, and was beyond our control.”]