Sotto warns House members of ‘unparliamentary acts’

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday warned members of the House of Representatives on the dangers of “unparliamentary acts” while they are holding proceedings on the plenary, saying it’s like “digging your own grave.”

“Kasi ang namomonitor ko run, hindi naman sa nakikialam ako sa kanila, it’s none of my business actually, kaya lang ang pinag-uusapan dito parliamentary procedures,” Sotto said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

(Because of what I’ve monitored, not that I am interfering with them it’s none of my business actually, but what we are talking about here is parliamentary procedures.)

“Pag hindi mo sinusunod ang parliamentary procedures, hindi mo sinusunod ang rules danger kayo later on. Parang naghuhukay kayo ng mga libingan. Kasi may nagsasalita hindi mo pagsasalitain, may nago-object hindi mo pakikinggan yung objection. Hindi parliamentary ‘yan, hindi tamang conduct ‘yan. Pagtagal eh medyo magulo ‘yan,” he continued.

(When you do not follow the parliamentary procedures, you are not following the rules [and because of that you could be putting yourself] in danger later on. It’s like digging your own grave. Because someone was speaking and you do not allow that person to talk, someone was objecting and you do not acknowledge the objection. That is not parliamentary, that is a wrong conduct. Later on that would be chaotic.)

Sotto’s reaction came after a shouting match between lawmakers erupted at the House plenary during Wednesday’s session, when Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, the former majority leader, questioned the resolution electing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new Speaker.

Fariñas questioned why House Resolution 2025 did not pass by the committee on rules, which he previously chaired.

Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, Jr. explained that after Arroyo became Speaker, the members of the majority elected Rep. Fredenil Castro as interim majority leader, thereby making him chair of the rules committee.

But ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio objected with the motion. He shouted in an attempt to prevent the adoption of the resolution but Andaya blatantly proceeded and adopted the resolution even if there was an objection. Andaya only acknowledged Tinio when he already suspended the session.

READ: Shouting match erupts as Fariñas questions Arroyo election as Speaker

Arroyo took Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s post in a dramatic coup last Monday.

READ: While Alvarez was making enemies, Arroyo was consolidating her forces

READ: Alvarez concedes to Arroyo, tells colleagues to ‘get back to work’

/jpv

RELATED VIDEO