Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Thursday, June 18, 2026, that an estimated P700 million in taxpayers' money was wasted during the 28-day leadership of ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
In a social media post, Lacson listed incidents under Cayetano's watch, including a shooting inside the Senate building, the "escape" of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa while under Senate protective custody, the boycott of plenary sessions by Cayetano's group, 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, now part of the 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 added.
Cayetano was elected Senate President on May 11 after the sudden return 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 war on drugs.
To prevent Dela Rosa's arrest, Cayetano's leadership placed him under protective custody while exhausting legal remedies against his arrest.
On the evening of May 13, a shooting occurred inside the Senate building. Investigators said then-Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca, a classmate of Dela Rosa, initiated the shooting after spotting NBI personnel in the GSIS building, just one building and a door away from the Senate building.
Dela Rosa left the Senate compound before dawn on May 14, hours after the shooting incident that caused chaos in the hall, along with Senator Robin Padilla, whom the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recommended for obstruction of justice charges.
