MANILA – Former members of the University of the Philippines student political groups SAMASA and Nagkaisang Tugon have jointly called for the resignation of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, citing what they described as a “grave failure of leadership, judgment, and institutional responsibility” during the recent Senate controversy involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

In a rare joint statement released Saturday, 152 former members of the rival student formations said they set aside decades of political differences to issue a unified stand on the issue, which they said raised serious concerns about democratic institutions and accountability.

The coalition noted that SAMASA and Tugon had historically represented opposing ideological traditions in UP student politics, often clashing in past political contests, particularly in the 1980s.

“What makes this especially significant is that this call now includes members of Nagkaisang Tugon itself – the very student political formation under which Alan Peter Cayetano once served as a University Student Councilor,” the group said.

It added that the convergence of former members from both camps reflected what it described as a serious breach of institutional boundaries.

“When even one’s own political roots and former allies publicly repudiate one’s leadership, it reflects a profound belief that institutional and democratic boundaries have been dangerously crossed.”

The group said its call was not rooted in partisan politics but in what it described as mishandling of the Senate’s role during the controversy surrounding Dela Rosa’s alleged protective custody.

“Under his watch, the Senate transformed itself from a constitutional institution into a stage for political theater, confusion, and brinkmanship,” the statement read.

It further cited the incident as having escalated into “chaos, conflicting statements, armed tension, warning shots, and the eventual disappearance” of Dela Rosa while supposedly under Senate custody.

The coalition also argued that Senate leadership assumed responsibility over Dela Rosa while failing to ensure accountability for his subsequent disappearance.

“You cannot invoke the Senate’s institutional powers to shield someone from arrest, insist that you are responsible for his custody and safety, and then evade accountability when that person disappears,” it said.

It warned that the incident has contributed to growing public distrust in institutions and perceptions of unequal application of the law.

“People see how swiftly the law moves against the powerless and how slowly and theatrically it moves for the politically connected.”

The group said such incidents weaken democratic norms and risk eroding public confidence in governance.

“Laws become weaker. Democratic norms become more fragile. Public anger becomes easier to manipulate. This is how institutional decay becomes social decay.”

The statement also criticized Cayetano for what it called attempts to justify the situation rather than address its consequences, and urged him to step down.

“Public office requires more than loyalty to friends and coalition arithmetic. It requires maturity, restraint, competence, and respect for institutions larger than oneself. If Alan Peter Cayetano still possesses a sense of political responsibility – and yes, shame – he should recognize the damage this episode has done to the Senate and resign.”

The call was signed by 152 former members of SAMASA and Tugon.