Robin Padilla, Kiko Pangilinan figure in brief Senate lounge commotion

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Robin Padilla figured in a brief “commotion” at the Senate lounge on Wednesday following another exchange during the plenary session.

Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said the incident occurred after the senators proceeded to the Senate lounge while the chamber had suspended its session.

“On their way out sa lounge, medyo nagkaroon ng commotion uli si Senator Robin at Pangilinan but it was quickly settled,” Aplasca told reporters.

(On their way to the lounge, Senators Robin and Pangilinan figured in another commotion, but it was quickly settled.)

“Extension ng nangyari. Medyo nagkatabi nang konti at nagkasagutan,” he added.

(It was an extension of what happened earlier. They got a little too close and exchanged words.)

During the plenary session, Padilla took the floor to reiterate his complaint over the alleged shouting incident involving Pangilinan on Tuesday.

Padilla rejected claims that he was being a “crybaby” and said Senate rules govern the conduct and language of lawmakers during sessions.

“Nangyari po ito on record sa Senado... Humihingi siya ng pag-abot ng kamay sa akin, hindi na on record. Paano ko po tatanggapin ang kamay niya eh ginawa niya on record kaya ang hinihiling natin, kung siya talaga nais niya magbigay ng kamay, on record,” he said.

(This happened on record in the Senate. He offered a handshake off-record. How can I accept his hand when what he did was on record? If he truly wants to extend his hand, it should also be on record.)

Pangilinan, in response, told Padilla to bring the matter before the Senate ethics committee.

“Ibig sabihin ba niyan hindi kayang humingi ng tawad ng isang veteran senator? Napakahirap bang sabihin noon na kailangan pa nating umabot sa Ethics?” Padilla added.

(Does that mean a veteran senator is incapable of apologizing? Is it so difficult that we still need to elevate this to the Ethics Committee?)

On Tuesday, the two senators engaged in a heated exchange while discussing the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

Pangilinan had sought to refer the manifestations regarding the ICC arrest warrant to the Senate Committee on Rules to allow the chamber to proceed to other matters.

However, Padilla interjected, prompting Pangilinan to raise his voice and say: “I still have the floor.”

Padilla later questioned whether senators were allowed to shout at colleagues and refused a handshake from Pangilinan during the break.

He also threatened to file a complaint before the Senate ethics committee if Pangilinan refused to apologize on record.

The exchange came after majority senators questioned the manner by which agents of the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to arrest Dela Rosa on Monday, when the senator appeared at the Senate for the first time in six months.

Dela Rosa had stayed out of the public eye amid reports that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him over his alleged role in extrajudicial killings linked to the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.—MCG, GMA News