‘Dianne who?’ Senate videoconference catches Villar calling staff member

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar provided a brief comic relief for her colleagues in the Senate, albeit unwittingly, after she was caught on video calling a certain “Dianne” during the online session of the Senate Monday.

Villar was among the senators who participated in the Senate session through videoconferencing, which has been allowed under the rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As the camera shifted from the session hall to senators, working remotely, Villar could be seen and heard repeatedly calling a member of her staff named “Dianne,” to the amusement of her colleagues.

“O anong sagot dito, Dianne? Dianne…” Villar said, drawing laughter from other senators such as Senators Franklin Drilon and Manny Pacquiao. She later on realized that everybody heard her call.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri came to the rescue, saying that Villar was experiencing “technical difficulties” with her mic.

“I move that Dianne be recognized, Mr. President,” Senator Sonny Angara said in jest.

Before this, the session was temporarily cut due to technical problems.

Zubiri noted that they suddenly lost their communication with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto  III, who was physically present at the session hall.

“Baka NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), nasabotahe na tayo after the vote (Maybe the NTC has already sabotaged us after the vote),” Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. could be heard as saying.

Revilla was referring to a resolution that was just adopted by the  Senate, urging the NTC to reconsider  its closure order against ABS-CBN.

The NTC issued a cease and desist order against the network last May 5, just a day after the expiration of the network’s franchise.

Shortly after the NTC’s directive, ABS-CBN went off the air.

Like Villar, Zubiri and Angara were also among those who joined the regular session through  videoconference.

EDV