Senate main event: ‘Cheater’ vs ‘mutineer’

MANILA, Philippines - A discussion over a bribery scandal deteriorated into an exchange of insults on the Senate floor yesterday, with two lawmakers nearly coming to blows before colleagues pacified them.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri called his colleague Antonio Trillanes IV a “mutineer,” prompting the latter to shoot back with his own description of Zubiri as a “cheater” in elections.

The senators were discussing a P50-million bribery scandal at the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Trillanes had accused pro-administration senators including Zubiri of trying to whitewash a probe sought by Senators Franklin Drilon and Leila de Lima.

“Never in my nine years in the House of Representatives and four years in the Senate have I been accused (of whitewashing any investigation)… I take offense on that. I don’t know what should be done, maybe this will be taken in the ethics committee or the gentleman (Trillanes) should apologize,” Zubiri said.

Trillanes countered that he was expected to react in such a way before the media after the senators voted to pull out the previous referral of Drilon’s resolution from his committee so that it would eventually be handled by the Senate justice committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, a perceived pro-administration senator.

“I’m glad that the gentleman (Zubiri) took offense because the statement was meant to be offensive. So at least he feels something,” Trillanes said, adding that Zubiri resigned from the Senate after being accused of cheating in the 2007 elections.

The comment made Zubiri retort by accusing Trillanes of rebellion and treason in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, adding that the senator was pardoned by president Benigno Aquino III in 2010 and became the “rabid defender of the faith” of the previous administration.

“I’m glad he declared war. If you want to pick a fight, I’ll fight you. I didn’t become world champion of arnis for nothing. Tell me how you want to fight, don’t say it in front of the media, come out and say it to me!” a furious Zubiri shouted.

Zubiri maintained he never cheated in the elections and was never charged, and all those caught in the fraud are now in jail. He resigned in 2011 and was replaced by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, his principal accuser then, and now the Senate President.

In Monday’s session, Trillanes branded the senators, who blocked De Lima’s proposal for the committee on civil service and government reorganization, which he heads, as “defenders of the faith.” De Lima wanted to probe the BI in light of the alleged bribery involving two bureau officials who are also fraternity brothers of President Duterte.

Yesterday, Trillanes said that, “If the senator declared war, (then) he must prepare to have (one) because this representation will not back down.”

He added that he was proud of what he did in 2003 and considered it a “badge of honor.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III then intervened and reminded the two of proper parliamentary conduct and of possible violations to parliamentary rules.

Pimentel then suspended the session and as the senators were about the huddle on the floor, Zubiri was seen angrily approaching Trillanes and pointing at him but Senators Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao and Pimentel were pulling him away.

A stern-looking Trillanes was seen saying something to Zubiri, who turned back to him and was seen reaching out to his colleague in a threatening manner but was blocked by other senators.

The senators later retreated to the lounge. They emerged after half an hour and returned to the session hall.

The people in the gallery clapped after Trillanes and Zubiri shook hands.

The chamber voted to delete from the records some parts of the exchange.

It was agreed that the resolutions would be heard jointly by Trillanes’ panel and the Senate justice committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon.

However, Gordon later told reporters that the Blue Ribbon committee, which he chairs, would conduct its own inquiry into the bribery scandal next week.