Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano responds to renewed calls for his resignation from minority senators, accusing them of turning institutional disputes into personal attacks and questioning whether he had been given a fair chance to lead.

Cayetano said criticisms against him had gone beyond policy disagreements and had become personal in tone.

“I've always treated you well, whether I'm close to you or not, whether you're in the minority, majority, and I will continue to treat all of you well,” Cayetano said, addressing minority lawmakers.

“Kayo ang namemersonal, because kami, it has been one issue after the other, di ba?” he added.

The Senate leader made the remarks amid continuing tension between the majority and minority blocs, as some senators renewed calls for a leadership reset and raised concerns over recent developments in the chamber.

Cayetano questioned the basis of accusations that he had failed in his role, arguing that he had not been given sufficient opportunity to fully carry out his responsibilities under the current leadership arrangement.

He also pushed back against accusations that attendance or physical presence in session halls should be used as a measure of courage or leadership, saying such framing oversimplifies the duties of lawmakers.

The Senate President also reiterated his earlier criticism of how some issues inside the chamber were being handled, saying proceedings and disputes were being treated as political theater rather than institutional work.

“Sabi ni Sen. Tulfo, pag hindi ako nagpakita sa session hall ay ako yung duwag. Ang kaduwagan po ay nag-uugat 'yan sa ano ba ang purpose at trabaho mo,” SP Cayetano said in response to the Majority Bloc’s staged no-show at multiple Plenary sessions this week.

Cayetano maintained that Senate proceedings should remain professional and anchored on legislative work, stressing that the chamber is not a platform for entertainment or personal confrontation.

“This is not a radio or TV program. This is the Senate of the Philippines,” he said.

The Senate leader did not directly address whether he would consider stepping down, but reiterated that leadership criticism should be grounded in fairness and due process rather than personal attacks.

“Whether I was in the leadership or I was just a simple follower, I gave them a chance. So let me ask the 11 minority who's asking me to resign now. Well, kahit na isang oras, binigyan niyo ba ako ng chance?”