Padilla eyes ethics complaint vs Pangilinan over alleged shouting in plenary

Amid discussions regarding Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, tensions rose between Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Robinhood Padilla on Tuesday, May 12, after the latter objected to being shouted at.

Senator Robinhood Padilla (Senate PRIB photo)

Padilla accused Pangilinan of shouting at him when the latter raised a point of order against Padilla’s manifestation regarding the arrest warrant issued against Dela Rosa, arguing that the issue should be tackled at the committee level rather than on the floor to save time for other concerns.

As Padilla attempted to interject, Pangilinan raised his voice to assert his right to speak.

“I still have the floor!” Pangilinan emphasized.

Following a lengthy interpellation from Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to Padilla’s manifestation, a visibly irked Padilla brought up Pangilinan’s alleged shouting.

He asked before Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda if the act is something that’s allowed.

“Sapagkat gusto ko po sanang ireklamo si Sen. Pangilinan sa pagsigaw. Meron po ba sa rules natin na sinasabing pwede mong sigawan ng kapwa mo senador? (Because I would like to file a complaint against Sen. Pangilinan for shouting. Is there anything in our rules that says you are allowed to shout at a fellow senator?)” Padilla asked.

Legarda suspended the session in an attempt to defuse the situation. Before this, she acknowledged the loud tone, joking that Pangilinan’s broadcasting background might be the reason.

“Narinig ko ‘yung malakas na boses ni Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. Alam ko na si Sen. Pangilinan ay dating galing sa broadcasting, baka nag-modulate (I heard Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s loud voice. I know that Sen. Pangilinan used to be in broadcasting, maybe he was just modulating his voice),” Legarda said, before suspending the session to resolve the matter off-mic.

“‘Di ako sanay na sinisigawan, sinasabi nila natural ‘yan dito, sa’kin hindi. Ngayon kung sa’n makarating reklamo ko bahala magdesisyon kung sino maging chairman ng committee on ethics (I’m not used to being shouted at. They say that’s normal here, but for me it isn’t. Now, wherever my complaint reaches, I will leave it to whoever will be chosen as chairman of the Committee on Ethics to decide),” Padilla told reporters.

Asked why he refused Pangilinan’s attempt to put the matter behind, Padilla demanded that the apology be made on the Senate floor where the incident occurred.

“Mag-apologize ka muna. Sa plenary mo gawin. Kasi sa plenary niya ‘ko sinigawan. Kung sinigawan niya ‘ko dyan okay lang magkamay kami (Apologize first. Do it in the plenary. Because it was in the plenary that I was shouted at. If he shouted at me there, then it’s fine for us to shake hands),” Padilla explained, saying it needs to be heard by his wife, children, and his guests at the gallery. — Dhel Nazario