MANILA — Sen. Erwin Tulfo called on Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to stop hurling insults at fellow senators and instead return to work at the chamber.

In a media report, Tulfo said Cayetano should focus on legislative duties rather than making statements on social media.

“Pasok na lang kayo, sir. Tulad po ng kapatid ninyo, pumasok na last week at iyong mga kasamahan,” Tulfo told “BaliTanghali”.

(Just go back to work, sir. Follow your sibling and colleagues and just return to work.)

“Pasok po kayo para may Senate minority leader. Mas maganda kapag dito tayo mag-diskurso at ‘wag na sa Facebook,” he added.

(Just return to work so there will be a Senate minority leader. It will also be better if we will discuss issues here at the Senate and not on Facebook.)

The appeal came after Cayetano last week made fresh accusations against members of the Senate majority, describing some as “lapdogs” of Malacañang. He also referred to Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Sen. Raffy Tulfo as “lapdogs” of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Cayetano likewise called Sen. Erwin Tulfo a “lapdog” of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Sotto earlier described Cayetano’s remarks as a “waste of time,” while Lacson said the former Senate leader appeared to be nearing a “meltdown.”

“Kawawa naman. Kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi. Parang malapit nang bumigay. Sana hindi tuluyang mag-meltdown,” Lacson added.

(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.)

Cayetano has repeatedly alleged that Malacañang played a role in the recent Senate leadership shakeup. On June 8, he said the chamber was divided into two leadership blocs, claiming one was influenced by the Palace and proposing an “interim administrative arrangement” with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, which was rejected.

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