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Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivers his privilege speech, which he dubbed "Kontra SONA," during the Senate plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In his address, Cayetano responded to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), presenting the opposition’s assessment of the administration’s policies and governance. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivers his privilege speech, which he dubbed "Kontra SONA," during the Senate plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In his address, Cayetano responded to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), presenting the opposition’s assessment of the administration’s policies and governance.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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PH SENATE- KONTRA-SONA

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178523682577020260728-senate-kontra-sona-alan-cayetano-MT16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivers his privilege speech, which he dubbed &quot;Kontra SONA,&quot; during the Senate plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivers his privilege speech, which he dubbed &quot;Kontra SONA,&quot; during the Senate plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday questioned the impartiality of the Marcos government in its investigations, saying the country&#x27;s leader is also &quot;a president of the opposition.&quot;</p><p>In his &quot;Kontra SONA&quot; speech, delivered a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave his fifth national address, Cayetano said the chief executive is not only &quot;the president of the administration, he is also a president of the opposition.&quot;</p><p>Cayetano&#x27;s line is an allusion to Marcos&#x27; speech in his Monday&#x27;s SONA where he announced that <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/marcos-says-multiple-charges-vs-romualdez-to-be-filed-soon-1621">cases are set to be filed against his cousin</a>, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in connection with the flood control controversy.</p><p>Marcos said: &quot;Masakit man sa akin ito, ngunit kailangan nating gawin ang tama. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya, hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay pangulo ng Pilipinas...&quot;</p><p>Cayetano later brought up the situation of some of his colleagues in the Senate minority bloc when he asked the president whether justice is fair in the country.</p><p>&quot;I believe that Sen. Bato [dela Rosa] is fleeing unjustly because he cannot get justice. I believe Sen. Jinggoy [Estrada] and Sen. [Rodante] Marcoleta are political prisoners and that... if it wasn&#x27;t weaponized, they will be able to at least go out on bail,&quot; Cayetano said.</p><p>&quot;Sabihin n&#x27;yo na mali ako, but should they be allowed to attend the impeachment?&quot; he asked. &quot;Sabihin n&#x27;yo na mali ako and they&#x27;re not political prisoners, but are they getting the justice? Pantay-pantay ba ang hustisya o selective justice po tayo ngayon?&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/28/lacson-cayetano-taguig-ghost-projects-ombudsman-1506">Lacson turns over evidence on alleged Taguig ‘ghost’ projects to Ombudsman; Cayetano says ‘beware malicious accusations’</a></div><p><strong></strong>Cayetano also called for the completion of the flood control scandal investigation and the end to the culture of corruption.</p><p>&quot;So sana, we will find the strength and wisdom to conclude the investigations, to hold people accountable, but also to put the genuine reforms,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Ina-address ba natin na sa bawat kailangan ng Pilipino, lisensya, business permit, real property tax, customs, ay may lagayan? So the culture of corruption continues to lay hold.&quot;</p><p>In his SONA, Marcos said the government was also implementing reforms in the corruption-ridden public works agency.</p><p>&quot;Bukod sa mga flood control projects, lahat ng mga proyekto ay sinuri at tiniyak na talagang kinakailangan at maayos — mula plano, presyo, hanggang pagpapatupad,&quot; Marcos said, adding that overpricing would be avoided with the new system.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/cayetano-on-lacson-allegations-haharapin-namin-yun-1308">Cayetano on ‘ghost’ project word war with Lacson: ‘Haharapin namin’</a></div><div><strong>—RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pW_wuF7oAtI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/08uQDIa4DAI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday questioned the impartiality of the Marcos government in its investigations, saying the country's leader is also "a president of the opposition."</p>

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday questioned the impartiality of the Marcos government in its investigations, saying the country's leader is also "a president of the opposition."

Cayetano asks Marcos: 'Pantay-pantay ba ang hustisya o selective justice tayo?'

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Cayetano asks Marcos: 'Pantay-pantay ba ang hustisya o selective justice tayo?'

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 07:15 PM PHT

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Alan Peter Cayetano

Kontra SONA

Philippine Senate

Senate minority

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

State of the Nation Address

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