Screengrab from Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's FB

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano pushed back against efforts to pressure Senator Ronald dela Rosa to surrender, saying lawmakers should instead focus on the country’s worsening economic problems rather than political drama inside the Senate.

Speaking briefly to reporters before session on Monday, Cayetano said he originally did not plan to face the media and only wanted to check on police officers stationed outside the Senate complex under the heat.

“I just wanted to see how the police are doing outside because it’s so hot. And just assure them that we appreciate their work,” he said.

Cayetano addressed a resolution filed by the minority bloc calling on Dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender once all legal remedies have been exhausted.

“We’ve said that again and again… senators, just like any individual, can exhaust and should be given the ability to exhaust all legal remedies,” he said.

He stressed that once all legal options are finished and a warrant is deemed valid, cooperation would follow.

“When all are exhausted, then of course we will surrender them,” Cayetano added.

He also raised concerns over reports that authorities allegedly coordinated efforts to arrest Dela Rosa inside the Senate premises, calling the situation unusual and possibly improper.

“This is the first time that’s happened,” he said, referring to the heavy presence of agents and police around the Senate.

Cayetano revealed that the matter could eventually be referred to the Senate ethics committee if evidence shows that senators deliberately tried to prevent another senator from attending session.

“If the investigation shows that senators plotted to keep another senator from attending the session, that’s a criminal offense,” he said.

Throughout the briefing, Cayetano repeatedly urged fellow lawmakers to shift attention away from political conflicts and focus on national concerns such as inflation, fuel prices, logistics, healthcare, and food costs.

“We’re trying to shift to the bigger picture, which is the spiritual, financial, economic, social well-being of our country, not only the political,” he said.

He also criticized what he described as unnecessary political tension that forced police officers to remain deployed outside the Senate.

“The police are pitiful. They should be manning their posts… but we’re creating this tense situation,” he remarked.

Cayetano denied fears that his leadership was under immediate threat despite questions surrounding the slim majority supporting him.

“They said that our majority is thin. My answer to that is, it’s better to be thin than to be thick,” he said jokingly.

The Senate President also emphasized that leadership changes in the Senate should happen peacefully and professionally, recalling previous transitions where senators accepted political defeats without conflict.

Toward the end of the briefing, Cayetano questioned why political attention remained centered on Dela Rosa instead of pressing national issues.

“Would you rather be reporting on inflation, on tourism, on gas prices, on education, on the Super El Niño, or would you rather keep talking about BATO?” he said.

“BATO doesn’t exist. BATO is not a box office. So there’s a legal issue. So let the court decide. Can’t we move on from that?”