Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson slammed Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s remarks questioning why the Senate minority bloc did not protest during a heated exchange involving Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Lacson, however, pushed back against Marcoleta’s statements, defending the minority bloc and criticizing the framing of the issue.

“So, kasalanan pa ng minority bloc na hindi nag-protesta dahil sinigawan ang Senate President natin? Actually, laking pasasalamat nga namin na hindi siya binigwasan ni Sec. Jonvic dahil sa inasal niya kahapon,” Lacson said on Tuesday, June 2.

He added a pointed remark, saying, “Damn your damdamin,” in response to Marcoleta’s appeal to emotion.

This came in response to Marcoleta’s earlier remark expressing frustration over what he described as a lack of protest from fellow minority senators during the incident.

He said the minority bloc appeared to have been disregarded and did not show support for Estrada during the tense moment in the chamber.

“‘Yung damdamin ko kahapon ang namayani. Bakit ganito na ang pagtrato sa amin? Minaliit kami masyado,” Marcoleta said on Monday, adding that the minority did not object when Cayetano was reportedly shouted at during the confrontation.

The exchange stemmed from Monday’s incident inside the Senate premises, where Remulla was heard raising his voice at Cayetano during a confrontation linked to an appeal over the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

He also questioned the minority’s response, saying they did not show solidarity or encouragement for Estrada as authorities moved to take him into custody.

The Senate episode highlighted tensions within the chamber following Estrada’s arrest, which has drawn reactions from both majority and minority members amid questions over protocol and conduct during high-profile enforcement actions inside the Senate.