Cayetano: No plot to oust Senate chief

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano described yesterday Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s accusation that he is plotting to oust Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III as a figment of his imagination.

Apparently irked, Cayetano challenged Trillanes to resign along with him to finally clear the chamber of ?“problems.”

Cayetano is expected to resign as senator within the next months, as President Duterte is expected to appoint him as secretary of either foreign affairs or justice.

Cayetano denied Trillanes’ claims, saying he has no more interest in seeking the Senate presidency.

With barely five months left before he presumably leaves the Senate, Cayetano said it makes no sense for him to even aspire for the Senate presidency.

“I am not attempting and I don’t have any plan to attempt to get the leadership,” Cayetano said in a press conference yesterday. “Senator Koko is trusted by the senators and by the President. What would I be able to do in five or six months if I am joining the President, in whatever capacity I still do not know. It is useless and I would just put a stain on my name because I would not be able to do anything within five months.” 

Cayetano said Trillanes is the only senator who came up with such idea and this might be part of his agenda.

“So expect weekly intrigues from Senator Trillanes because that is his calling nowadays,” he said.

Trillanes and Cayetano used to be allies as members of the Nacionalista Party and, together with Pimentel, led the investigation into the alleged anomalies involving former vice president Jejomar Binay.

But after Cayetano decided to run for vice president alongside Duterte, his relationship with Trillanes soured. 

“If Senator Trillanes thinks that I am the problem, then I dare him to resign together with me. We can do it tomorrow. Because for me, I think he is the problem in the Senate,” Cayetano said.

In a text message, Trillanes said Cayetano should be the first to resign because this was his promise before: to resign if crime, corruption and illegal drugs in the country are not resolved within three to six months.

Cayetano accused Trillanes of destroying the camaraderie among senators, citing the case of the latter’s quarrel with Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri last week.