ATOM decries Alan Peter Cayetano's use of Laban sign, comparison with Ninoy Aquino

The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) on Sunday called out Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for using the “Laban” sign during his livestream on June 12, and for comparing himself with the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

“Laban po ibig sabihin nito, hindi lapastangan, kasi mukhang kay Senator Cayetano, baka iyon po ang ibig sabihin, at medyo nilalapastangan ang institution ng Senado,” ATOM president Volt Bohol said during the group's Walk Against Corruption initiative in Makati City.

(Laban means to fight. It’s not disrespect which is what it may mean for Senator Cayetano since the institution of the Senate is being disrespected.)

‘LABAN ANG IBIG SABIHIN NITO, HINDI LAPASTANGAN’

ATOM President Volt Bohol called out Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s use of the ‘laban’ sign.

“It’s okay to use the laban sign para sa lahat ng naghahangad ng kalayaan but it has to be for the right reasons, not for your own… pic.twitter.com/su9HT7DiRu

— GMA News (@gmanews) June 14, 2026

The "Laban" sign, made using the forefinger and thumb to form the letter L, is a prominent sign of the opposition during the Marcos Sr. regime.

“It’s okay to use the Laban sign para sa lahat ng naghahangad ng kalayaan (for all those seeking freedom), but it has to be for the right reasons, not for your own political agenda or political party or political patrons,” he added.

Earlier today, ATOM staged a protest through its Walk Against Corruption initiative along Ayala Avenue and held a program at the Ninoy Aquino Monument.

The group called for Cayetano’s resignation and the filing of cases against senators and other government officials who aided the escape of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa who has a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court.

They also flagged Cayetano’s comparison to Aquino, supported the call to begin the impeachment process of Vice President Sara Duterte, and called out the Sandiganbayan's dismissal of the recent assent claims against the Marcos family.

“Sobrang layo po [ni Cayetano at Aquino] (Senator Cayetano and late Senator Aquino are far off),” ATOM said during their protest.

“Sobrang layo po”

Ganito inilarawan ng grupong August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) ang paghahambing umano ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano sa sarili kay dating Sen. Ninoy Aquino matapos gamitin ang “laban” sign sa gitna ng isyu sa Senado.

Sa isang pahayag kagabi, June 13, nilinaw… pic.twitter.com/jwubHHLp4E

— GMA News (@gmanews) June 14, 2026

"The Laban sign and Ninoy Aquino are for every Filipino, we agree with Senator Cayetano. But use it for the right reasons, and not for your own political agenda," Bohol said in a statement.

GMA News Online asked Cayetano for comment but he has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.

In a social media post on Saturday night however, Cayetano said no family holds a monopoly on Ninoy Aquino’s name or on heroism itself.

Cayetano said he is not comparing himself or his group to Ninoy, but that he identifies with the values Ninoy fought for.

“Let me be clear about Ninoy. No family holds a monopoly on his name, because no one holds a monopoly on heroism. Heroism is not inherited; it is earned. People Power itself proved as much — it was not the triumph of a single family, but of ordinary Filipinos who decided that truth mattered more than fear,” Cayetano said in a social media post on Saturday.

“I am proud of what they did and what they sacrificed. I do not compare myself, or our group, to them — but I do identify with what they fought for,” he added. “We do not claim to be him, and we do not compare ourselves to his heroism.”

Cayetano was ousted as Senate president on June 3 during a session wherein 12 senators were present and all positions were declared vacant. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was then elected Senate president pro tempore.

However, Cayetano insisted he remains president of the Senate. On June 8, he offered an "interim administrative arrangement" with Gatchalian.

Cayetano also said the Senate is now divided into the Senate of the Philippines and the Senate of Malacañang, reiterating accusations the Palace has a hand in the leadership of the chamber.

Malacañang however dismissed as “fake news” the claim of Cayetano that there are two upper chambers—-the Senate and the “Senate of Malacañang.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro also reiterated in a press briefing on Tuesday that Malacañang recognizes only the leadership of Gatchalian in the upper chamber. —KG, GMA News