FORMER Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday said all senators should adhere to “Senate traditions” at all times and observe proper decorum during official proceedings to preserve the integrity and reputation of the upper chamber.
Sotto made the statement as he agreed with the observation of former Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon
that some senators lack proper decorum when attending sessions and committee hearings, which he said has been “noisy” of late.
“Well, I will have to concur with what Sen. Drilon said, but it doesn’t mean that it will not improve. You know they are very new, one year there. I’m sure some of the members will be able to follow tradition. I think that is the most important thing, they have to get that there is a tradition, and it should be followed,” Sotto said in an interview after the necrological service for the late Sen. Rodolfo Biazon.
Sotto also said those who feel they are being alluded to by Drilon’s observations should not take the criticism personally but take this as a lesson to improve themselves.
He recalled that when he was a neophyte senator in 1992, the likes of senators Ernesto Maceda, Edgardo Angara, and Arturo Tolentino also gave him advises which he took to heart and followed.
“They should welcome such observations — criticisms and observations, lalo na sa mga antigo (especially from the elders). So, you learn from the old guys. At saka hindi bago ito (And also, there is nothing new to it),” he said.
“They should take it in stride and try to follow tradition. It’s as simple as that,” he added.
Drilon echoed Sotto’s comments and said neophyte lawmakers in the upper chamber should heed the advice of veteran senators to preserve the credibility and prestige of the Senate as an institution.
Drilon recalled that when he was a new senator in 1995, he was advised by the elders to first observe the proceedings before joining debates in the plenary.
“As a neophyte senator (in 1995), I was told by the elders ‘makinig ka muna, huwag ka munang sumali sa usapan, makinig ka (you should listen first, do not join the discussionsyet).’ And that’s exactly what I did for six months, I listened,” Drilon said.
Drilon, who was also a minority leader in the 18th Congress, has appealed to members of the present Senate to mind their conduct as he observed that some senators lacked proper decorum while attending sessions or committee hearings.
He said that he has already stated his observations and it is up to the Senate leadership “what to do, if any.”
“Well, I think we should end the debate. I have delivered my message. It is up to the Senate leadership what to do, if any. I sincerely put on record what I thought should be done. They are elected representatives. It is their call,” he added.
While Drilon and Sotto did not name the senators they were referring to, neophyte Sen. Robin Padilla reacted to the criticisms after he was bashed on various social media platforms where videos of him combing his moustache during one of the committee hearings was uploaded.
In an interview also after the necrological service for Biazon, Padilla said there is nothing in the Rules of the Senate that prohibits him from combing his moustache while there is an ongoing committee hearing.
“Wala sa Rules of the Senate na bawal magsuklay ng bigote. Siguro kung nandoon ‘yan na sinabi na bawal, susundin po natin. Ang maganda niya ay pinuntahan pa ako ni Sen. Chiz Escudero. Sabi niya ‘O pare pinagtanggol kita kasi wala naman sa Rules ‘yan, kung gusto mo magsuklay ka hanggang gusto mo.’ Alam mo beteranong senador ‘yan
(There is nothing in the Rules of the Senate which says that it is prohibited to comb your moustache otherwise I will abide by it. The good thing is that Sen. Francis Escudero approached to tell me that he has defended me, saying that it is not in the Rules of the Senate, and I can comb my moustache as I please. You know he is a veteran lawmaker),” Padilla said.
“Wala naman masama lalo na kung tikwas-tikwas ang bigote. Mas mahirap naman baka banatan ako sa susunod, itong si Robin Padilla mukhang tutsang ang kanyang bigote (There is nothing wrong especially when my moustache is in a disarray. What’s worse is that I may be bashed for my moustache which looks frizzy),” he added.
Padilla said he does not feel alluded to by the elder senators and respects their opinion but said such criticisms or observations that the current Senate lack proper decorum make it appear that the present Senate leadership has lost control over its members, which he said is not true.
He said what the people are seeing are the intense debates in the plenary due to their passion to defend the measures being questioned by their colleagues, which he said gives the impression that sessions are noisy.
“Kaya pagdating dito sa Senado minsan mainit ka na minsan gusto mo na agad ng debate, minsan sasabihin pa sa iyo na kailangan respetuhin natin ang tradisyon, respetuhin natin sino ang beterano. Yan ho ay mga bagay na nakaka-stress yan (There are times when I arrive in the Senate, I want debates to immediately proceed, but sometimes you will be told that we need to respect the tradition, respect the veteran lawmakers. These are the things which stresses me out),” he said, insisting he will not change the way he acts in the Senate since he was elected by more than 26 million Filipinos for being known to be from the masses.
