Gotta catch them all… alliances? 

Francine Balang

Nothing reveals the nature of political alliances more than the pursuit of power.

In Philippine politics, alliances rarely last. And Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s political career reflects that exact pattern. Recent events in the Senate have shown how quickly political alliances can be formed and broken. Yet long before these disputes dominated the headlines, Cayetano had already made a career out of navigating political change without being left behind. 

Cayetano’s political career didn’t appear from nowhere. His history in politics ran from the following: 

• 1992 – Began his political career as a Taguig City councilor.
• 1995 to 1998 – Served as vice mayor of Taguig City.
• After 1998 – Elected as district representative of Taguig for three consecutive terms.

But as he stayed longer in politics, he became increasingly involved in national affairs. This was most especially seen during the Arroyo administration, marking the beginning of a career that would extend across multiple administrations.

Arroyo Administration

It began with the Arroyo administration:

• Sister Pia Cayetano ran under the pro-Arroyo coalition
• Cayetanos received campaign support from First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo 

More than a source of campaign support, this reflected Cayetano’s early integration into the prevailing political alliances of the Arroyo administration.

However, as the “Hello Garci” scandal unfolded, he quickly switched sides and supported Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s impeachment. And the campaign support earlier given by First Gentleman Arroyo was blown out of the window right after Cayetano turned his back to the Arroyos.

“We can withdraw the complaint if she will answer these questions of cheating, lying and stealing,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano’s years with the Arroyos were no stranger to controversy. As he alleged that the First Gentleman had an undisclosed multimillion-dollar bank account in Germany, it drove the end of their alliance. This issue occurred amid increased public attention to Cayetano’s profile too. By early 2007, Pulse Asia surveys placed Cayetano within the senatorial winning circle, with 31.7% voter support, surpassing Sen. Vicente Sotto III of 28.8%.

Pinoy Administration

Seeking a second term in the Senate in 2013, Cayetano ran under Team Pnoy, riding the wave of the administration-backed coalition of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. 

The coalition brought together candidates from different political parties, including the Liberal Party, Akbayan, Cayetano’s Nacionalista Party, and the PDP-Laban. Yet Cayetano’s political realignments did not stop with the Arroyo and Aquino administrations. 

Cayetano secured reelection as part of the ruling slate. But as Aquino and former President Rodrigo Duterte grew increasingly at odds following the 2015 Mamasapano operation, Duterte repeatedly criticized Aquino’s handling of the incident and used it as a central attack against the administration throughout the 2016 campaign.

And despite teaming with Noynoy before, Cayetano quickly jumped boats to Duterte’s by the following year.

Duterte Administration

Cayetano’s political alignment shifted once more, this time toward former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp ahead of the 2016 elections, where he served as his vice-presidential running mate. In the 2016 vice-presidential election, Cayetano placed third with approximately 5.9 million votes. He became a key ally of Duterte during the presidential campaign and the transition period, openly supporting:

• War on drugs
• Build, Build, Build program
• Legislative backing

Cayetano retained significant influence within Duterte’s political circle and was even appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 2017.

Marcos Administration

But unlike his pattern of moving between political camps, Cayetano remained active in the Senate through the “Cayetano Bloc,” which was frequently involved in:

• Leadership disputes
• Senate shooting
• Changing political alliances

He was Senate President for nearly 38 days but was replaced by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. And his leadership had multiple absences too, as Cayetano remained active on Facebook Live, where he provided his own explanations of the conflict and even used Pokèmon cards to explain it to the public.

With Cayetano serving as Senate President from May 11, 2026, to June 17, 2026, the second shortest tenure in the history of Senate presidency after Camilo Osias, and stalling bills while being absent, he still went on to argue that his group faced struggles and hardships in the Senate. 

After he lost the backing of the Senate majority, he continued to contest his removal, likening his political fight to the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s fight before being replaced by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

He has spent 34 years in politics from 1992 to 2026, and Cayetano’s career reflects both longevity in public office and recurring political repositioning across administrations. While he has served in several high-profile roles, his record also includes short-lived leadership stints and campaign commitments that remain unfulfilled.

But despite being in politics for 34 years, one promise is yet to be realized today: his ₱10,000 per family financial assistance program in 2016. 

Switching Political Alliances

Viewed collectively, these shifts reveal a pattern that extends beyond Cayetano’s individual career. Across different administrations, his political trajectory mirrors broader characteristics of Philippine politics, where alliances are usually maintained only while they remain politically useful.

As administrations change and new centers of power emerge, politicians frequently reposition themselves to remain influential and politically relevant.

Within the structure of Philippine politics itself, Cayetano’s career shows a political culture where yesterday’s coalition can become tomorrow’s opposition.