Senator Robin Padilla is demanding a public apology from Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan after the veteran legislator allegedly raised his voice at him during a heated Senate plenary session on Tuesday, May 12 — and says a formal ethics complaint is ready if none comes.
The confrontation erupted while senators were discussing the failed attempt to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in connection with an International Criminal Court warrant tied to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The dispute began after Pangilinan raised a point of order, arguing that the issue surrounding dela Rosa’s attempted arrest had already been referred to the Senate committee on rules. Padilla countered that the arrest warrant had only become public Monday night and insisted the matter deserved immediate discussion on the Senate floor. As Padilla continued speaking, Pangilinan cut him off.
“And for the record, Mr. President, I still have the floor!” Pangilinan said during the exchange.
The remark, delivered in a raised voice, immediately drew Padilla’s ire. Padilla subsequently announced on the floor his intention to formally complain against Pangilinan before the Senate ethics committee. “Gusto ko po sana ireklamo si Senator Pangilinan sa pagsigaw. Meron po ba sa rules natin na pwede mong sigawan ang kapwa senador?” Padilla said.
Legarda suspended the session in an attempt to defuse the situation. During the suspension, Pangilinan attempted to reach out to Padilla for reconciliation, but Padilla refused to shake his hand.
Padilla made clear that a handshake was not enough. He 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,” Padilla explained, saying it needed to be heard by his wife, children, and his guests in the gallery.
“Hindi ko matatanggap ‘yung natural ang sigawan. Not me. Sila kung gusto nila magsigawan sila. Hindi ako kasama dun,” Padilla added.
When the Senate reconvened Wednesday, Pangilinan held his ground, suggesting the ethics committee was precisely the right venue to settle things. “Ang suggestion ko, isampa niya ‘yung ethics case at doon na po sa ethics committee natin pag-usapan ito dahil marami pang ibang mas importanteng bagay sa aking paniniwala ang dapat nating talakayin,” he said.
Padilla was unmoved. “Wala na po sigurong mas importante kung rules of the Senate ang pinag-uusapan natin. So, ang ibig sabihin ba niyan, hindi kayang humingi ng paumanhin ng isang veteran senator para sa kanyang pagtaas ng boses?” he said.
Pangilinan, who has served as senator for at least 17 years across four terms, dismissed the complaint as baseless, saying raised voices are unavoidable during heated plenary debates and that he had merely asserted his parliamentary right to the floor after Padilla interrupted him. “Huwag maging balat sibuyas. Walang legal na basehan at walang kwenta ang ethics case complaint na ‘yan. Hintayin na lang natin yung reklamo niya,” he said.
Pangilinan also threatened a counter-complaint, citing what he described as violations of parliamentary rules, lack of proper decorum, and intimidation directed at him during the recess. “Kung sakali man, sasagutin ko ng kontra-reklamo sa Ethics Committee sa kanyang paglabag sa parliamentary rules at pagiging out of order at sa kawalan ng proper decorum, ang pagbabanta sa akin, pananakot at paninindak sa akin sa plenary session kanina habang naka recess,” he said.
