THE Senate minority bloc won in its bid to strike off the record a video contained in the privilege speech of Sen. Imee Marcos that linked members of the group to an alleged Charter change (Cha-cha) campaign, denouncing it as untrue and a “propaganda tool.”
Except for Sen. Lito Lapid, the rest of the minority bloc stood up to support the motion of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to remove the “horrible” video from the Senate records, saying they never discussed Cha-cha in any of their meetings.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta opposed Zubiri’s motion, but Marcos later on relented and agreed to remove the video from her privilege speech. Zubiri, in turn, withdrew his motion.
The video in question showed that Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III allegedly discussed Cha-cha with House Speaker Faustino Dy III, allegedly to push term extension, indicating a “no election” scenario in 2028.
But Zubiri said the contents of the video sowed intrigue. “It’s unparliamentary. We just want to bring back the integrity of this same chamber,” he said.
Zubiri motioned to strike it off the records for violating the Senate Rules particularly Sections 93, 94, 95, on unparliamentary acts and language.
“I just want to point out that the video that the lady senator presented was obviously opinionated, a propaganda tool, [and] it should be stricken off the record,” he said.
Senate as circus
Zubiri said that if Marcos is dissatisfied with the government, she “should direct her anger toward her brother,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Curse her brother. But she should not drag other people who have nothing to do with that [Cha-cha moves],” he said.
“Cannot we discuss that as a group, as a body? That we fight for our integrity? For the good name to be brought back? For people like Diokno, people like Tañada, people like Aquino, people like Salonga, even Frank Drilon, people like Miriam Defensor Santiago, Joker Arroyo, who stood here for what was the best times of our institution. Have we forgotten that and we’ve made it already like a circus?” he added.
Sotto denied any involvement in Cha-cha efforts. “I have nothing to do with that.” Sen. Erwin Tulfo said, “We need respect. We deserve respect. We must not tolerate presentation of unparliamentary acts.”
“Clearly, disinformation has no place in this plenary hall,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said, “For the record, we never discussed Charter change.” Sen. Panfilo Lacson described Marcos’ allegations as “outright lies, flat out lies.”
“Many of us here will not allow a ‘no election’ scenario,” Sen. Bam Aquino said.
“Let’s move on. We have been a circus for the past few days. We’ve become the butt of the jokes,” said Sen. Raffy Tulfo.
“It’s so embarrassing. Are we going to be always like this?” Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked.
“Let us not to be used as platform for misinformation. We must bring back the trust of the people,” said Sen. JV Ejercito.
Solid Block 11
Hontiveros said the minority’s “Solid Block 11” (SB-11) would focus on reviving the image of the Senate as it continues to negotiate to install Gatchalian as the new Senate president.
The senator on Monday said so far the SB-11 has not been able to convince any member from the 13-man majority group, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Aside from Hontiveros and Gatchalian, the other SB-11 members are Sens. Bam Aquino, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Kiko Pangilinan, Vicente Sotto III, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Migz Zubiri.
“No one has been added [so far to the minority bloc]. We are solid 11 in the minority,” Hontiveros said in Filipino during a briefing.
She said the “new majority” that the SB-11 wanted to form would be “on the basis of common values, common interest.”
“Well, if Senator Win becomes SP that would be good for the Senate,” Hontiveros said.
“I have worked with him for about a decade. He is serious about his work as legislator. He stays on the [Senate] floor. He always discusses work with his staff and puts importance on the dignity [of the Senate],” she added.
Asked to confirm reports that Sen. Francis Escudero might join the minority to unseat Cayetano, she said, “I heard about that discussion.”
“As I mentioned, if it would be Senator Win [to replace Cayetano]. That would be good for the Senate,” Hontiveros said.
Pangilinan, in a television interview, confirmed that there were discussions to encourage Escudero to jump to the minority bloc, but these were immediately shot down.
“There were intermediaries but not Senator Chiz himself. It was not pursued because the proposition is not acceptable to the Solid 11,” he said.
Pangilinan declined to discuss the SB-11’s moves to muster the 13 votes to remove Cayetano.
“I’m not part of those assigned from our group to explore a Win Gatchalian Senate presidency. There are several senators on our end doing backchannel talks,” he said.
