FILE

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has raised concerns over reports that some senators were allegedly informed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) about a security threat against the Senate, questioning why the information was not shared with the entire chamber.

In a statement, Cayetano said that if the threat is legitimate, all senators, Senate employees, and personnel working within the institution deserve equal access to information and protection.

“If the threat is credible, then every Senator, every member of the Secretariat, and every individual who works within these walls deserves to be informed and protected. Security is not the concern of one bloc. It is the concern of the entire Senate.”

The Senate leader questioned the manner in which the information was reportedly disseminated, asking why some lawmakers were briefed while others were not.

“So the questions are simple. Why was this information shared with some Senators and not others? What is the nature of the threat, who assessed it, and on what evidence?”

Cayetano also scrutinized the role of the NBI in raising the alleged threat, noting that the information did not originate from the Senate's Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, which is responsible for maintaining security within the institution.

“And we must be candid about the source of this ‘threat.’ It did not come from the Senate’s own Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the office constitutionally charged with protecting this institution. It came from the NBI—and any honest accounting requires us to weigh that source carefully.”

He further cited previous incidents involving the NBI and questioned whether the agency could serve as a neutral source of information regarding Senate security matters.

“A clearly partisan NBI that was itself a party to violence within these walls cannot credibly appoint itself the guardian of our safety.”

The Senate President also called for verification from agencies traditionally tasked with national security and intelligence gathering, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

“Since when has the NBI been the lead agency on matters of national intelligence and security?” he asked.

Cayetano argued that genuine threats against the Senate should be communicated to the entire institution rather than selectively disclosed.

“In every functioning legislature, and in our own experience, a genuine threat to the institution is shared across the entire body—administration and opposition, majority and minority alike. It is never the private possession of one faction.”

He also pointed to the timing of the reported threat, noting that it surfaced amid ongoing discussions related to testimonies presented during recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee proceedings.

“This ‘threat’ surfaces precisely as the testimonies made in the latest Blue Ribbon Committee hearing begins to press for answers from the names it has raised. We are asked to accept that this is coincidence. The Filipino people are not so easily convinced.”

Despite his concerns, Cayetano emphasized that the Senate should continue carrying out its legislative duties and remain focused on issues affecting the public, including disaster recovery efforts in Mindanao, rising living costs, and pending economic measures.

“The work of this Senate must continue. The surest test of whether a threat is genuine and not a pretext is simple—a real threat is used to protect the Senate’s work, never to suspend it.”

He concluded by stressing the importance of preserving the Senate’s independence and commitment to transparency.
“The Senate works best when it is independent, transparent, and guided by facts rather than fear.”

Cayetano also urged lawmakers and the public not to lose sight of ongoing discussions regarding the alleged flood control fund controversy, saying accountability and the pursuit of truth should remain at the center of public attention.