Loyalties, betrayals

Two unlikely events happening at the plenary session halls of the 20th Congress indeed took place as “expected” last Monday, May 11. As anticipated by many political observers, the House of Representatives voted, with more than the required majority, for approval of the four Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. A total of 257 members of the pro-administration House approved it, with 25 “No” votes, and nine abstentions.

While the House was going through the nominal voting that day, the much-rumored ouster plot against Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was finally carried out, albeit with much twists and drama. Sotto was replaced by erstwhile Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who moved up as the new Senate President.

As it turned out, the required 12 plus one majority vote for Cayetano was delivered by absentee Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. After more than six months of no-show at the Senate, Dela Rosa popped out from nowhere to cast the swing vote for Cayetano.

The new Senate majority is largely composed of known political allies of VP Sara. Aside from Cayetano and Bato, they included Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Robin Padilla, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Rodante Marcoleta and presidential sister Imee Marcos as the original minority bloc. But they were able to recruit into their ranks from the former majority bloc Cayetano’s elder sister Pia, Senators Loren Legarda, Mark and Camille Villar, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.

Despite denials to the contrary, Cayetano was successfully installed to take over the Senate leadership at a time their House colleagues were finalizing the last rites for VP Sara’s impeachment. Thus, it goes without saying the Senate impeachment court will not be able to muster the required 2/3 vote, or 16 senators, to impeach VP Sara.

The 13th vote for Cayetano came from Sotto, who abided by the Senate tradition as the outgoing Senate president voting for his rival nominee. Senators Juan “Migz” Zubiri and JV Ejercito, who were Sotto’s Senate majority leader and assistant majority leader, respectively, decided to abstain. Sotto had nine senators “solidly” behind him. Cayetano’s manifestation “declaring vacant” the Senate president post would be voted down had the former majority bloc at the Senate stuck together.

No wonder Cayetano remains edgy as head of the Senate. Especially after that rowdy, tumultuous gunfire exchange at the Senate last Wednesday night, Cayetano’s leadership is literally under fire. It’s not only from the minority bloc senators but from the many Filipinos who saw the Philippine Senate spiral down as an institution.

Over the weekend, the new Senate chief announced in his Facebook livestreaming about a purported counter-coup against him. Cayetano believed certain senators, whom he did not name, were trying to win back to their side some of the senators who voted for him. He claimed being told some of the new Senate majority bloc members were allegedly being “threatened” to jump ship and abandon him. Although no names were mentioned, we can only draw suspicions.

The only ones described as allegedly “threatened” could be – methinks – Senators Chiz, Jinggoy and Joel. All three senators were implicated in the infamous flood control project scam recommended for further investigation by the ombudsman. They were among those named in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee partial report of erstwhile chairman and then Senate president pro tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Or it could be the Villar brother-sister tandem whose family corporate empire is being charged by certain government agencies with alleged violations of regulatory statutes. Or it could be current Senate president pro tempore Legarda who is being dragged into the political and business rows of her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.

The self-confessed “threatened” is Senator Bato. He went into hiding after the information came out in November last year that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had already turned over to the Interpol the warrant of arrest for him. Sen. Bato was named as one of the co-accused of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the alleged crimes against humanity and currently detained at The Hague.

Cayetano revealed on record it was he who convinced Sen. Bato to finally report back for duty at the Senate. Sen. Bato confirmed Cayetano swayed him to re-join them and carry out the Senate ouster plot against Sotto. Cayetano even admitted it was he who provided the vehicle to take Sen. Bato undetected into the Senate building. Obviously, both of them were fully aware of the high probability the ICC arrest warrant could be served once Sen. Bato comes out in public.

Worst, Senators Bato and Padilla are now being tagged as “persons of interest” by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). They were believed to have left together at Thursday dawn even as the Senate assumed “protective custody” of Sen. Bato.

Take your pick who among them are being “threatened” to join the ouster plot against Cayetano.

So Cayetano is crying wolf this early, as he might be removed, too, as Senate president, sooner if not later. If the feared counter-coup on him succeeds, Cayetano will go down in Philippine history as having the shortest stint as Senate president. This was also the first in its history that three Senate presidents were being installed one after the other in a span of three years.

The third and last regular session of the present 20th Congress will adjourn sine die this coming June 5. Unless both chambers agree to extend their session or President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr (PBBM) decides to convene a special session of Congress.

Practically, many if not all priority legislation sought by PBBM from Congress have been approved by the House. The bulk of bills under the common legislative agenda remain pending at the Senate. The impeachment trial is not considered a legislation.

Both Sotto and Lacson as then No.1 and No. 2 leaders of the former majority bloc have publicly committed to continue the impeachment trial even during the sine die adjournment.

The Cayetano-led Senate leadership is expected to do the same, loyalties and betrayals aside.