Alan Peter Cayetano calls Tito Sotto, Raffy Tulfo 'Malacañang lapdogs' amid Senate feud

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday aired fresh accusations against some members of the new Senate majority, calling them "tuta" or “lapdogs” of Malacañang.

In a speech during a fellowship lunch, Cayetano accused newly elected Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senator Raffy Tulfo of being “lapdogs” of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

He called Senator Erwin Tulfo a “lapdog” of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, supposedly because of information that the latter has on the first-term senator.

“Sabi nila, sabi ni Raffy Tulfo, hindi daw sila Malacañang, in other words, hindi sila tuta,” Cayetano said.

(Raffy Tulfo said they were not under Malacanang; in other words, they are not lapdogs.)

“But doon mo makikita yung graduated and experienced. Bakit? Kasi si Senator Tito Sotto and Raffy Tulfo, at least sila tuta ng Malacañang, pero si Erwin Tulfo, tuta lang ni Lacson,” Cayetano said.

(But that is where you see who has graduated and is experienced. Why? Because Senators Tito Sotto and Raffy Tulfo are at least lapdogs of Malacañang, while Erwin Tulfo is only Lacson’s lapdog.)

Cayetano later turned his criticism toward Lacson, saying: “Si Lacson? Hindi na po tuta si Lacson, aso na po siya. Matagal na.”

(Lacson is no longer a lapdog; he has long been a dog that carries out orders.)

He explained that by “aso,” he meant someone who follows orders and carries out instructions.

Sought for comment, Lacson said, "Kawawa naman. Kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi. Parang malapit nang bumigay. Sana hindi tuluyang mag-meltdown."

(I pity him. He's starting to speak nonsense. It seems he's about to give way. I hope he doesn't suffer a meltdown.)

Sotto, on the other hand, said reporting Cayetano's remarks is a "waste of airtime."

"It’s about time na huwag niyo nang patulan ang mala-telenovelang mga ingay na wala namang mararating. Waste of airtime. Let's move on for the good of the country," Sotto said.

Cayetano has repeatedly insisted that Malacañang had a hand in the recent Senate leadership shakeup. On June 8, the lawmaker said the chamber was divided into two leadership groups, with one being led by the Palace, as he offered an “interim administrative arrangement” with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

Gatchalian rejected the proposal.

To recall, Gatchalian was installed as Senate President Pro Tempore on June 3 after senators previously aligned with the minority bloc convened and elected him. He was later formally elected as the new Senate President during a special session on June 17, replacing Cayetano and ending the leadership dispute in the chamber.

GMA News Online reached out to Sotto, Lacson, and the Tulfo brothers for comment.

Meanwhile, Cayetano reiterated his allegation that the new Senate Blue Ribbon Committee intends to cover up the alleged massive flood control scandal.

Cayetano and Lacson previously traded barbs after the latter criticized the alleged waste of around P700 million in public funds during Cayetano’s 28-day stint as Senate President.

"The Philippine Senate in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano: Estimated Cost - P700M. Output - chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite an ICC-issued warrant while under its 'protective custody,' session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator," Lacson said on X (formerly Twitter).

"What a waste of taxpayers' money," he added.

Cayetano responded, saying Senate operations cost P25 million per day regardless of the leadership. –NB, GMA News