More ‘Dianne,’ unexpected jokes caught on video at Senate sessions

MANILA, Philippines —Being unwittingly interrupted by senators caught on video either cracking jokes or chatting with other people has become part of the Senate’s hybrid proceedings.

For instance, at Wednesday’s session, Senator  Richard Gordon was interrupted while explaining his no vote on the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises  Act.

“Nag-enjoy ka ba kahapon dun sa Supreme Court…? Si Leonen, oo grabe…” Senator  Panfilo Lacson, who was presiding over the session, could be heard telling someone at the session hall.

(Did you enjoy what happened at the Supreme Court yesterday…? Leonen, yes, shocking.)

The  Supreme  Court opened on Tuesday the oral arguments on the Anti-Terrorism Act. Lacson is one of the proponents of the said measure.

“Excuse me…May I speak, Mr. President,”  Gordon said as he continued his manifestation.

Remember Dianne?

While the session was suspended, the name “Dianne” resurfaced  again as  Senator Cynthia Villar  could be heard saying, “Bukas ba ito, Dianne; madidinig ako.”

(Is this open, Dianne? Will I be heard?)

Also, during a session in May,  Villar suddenly called the name of Dianne, drawing waves of laughter from her colleagues.

“O ano’ng sagot dito, Dianne? Dianne…” the senator then said.

(So what is the answer to this, Dianne? Dianne…)

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

Senator  Manny Pacquiao’s simple greeting to Villar, meanwhile, caught Senator Sonny Angara’s attention.

“Manny, batiin mo din yung  hindi bilyonaryo  (Manny, please also greet the non-billionaires),” Angara teased Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, world boxing champion, and Villar are the only billionaires in the Senate.

READ: Villar still richest senator with P3.8B net worth; De Lima poorest

“Ikaw talaga kaya ka napapagalitan e kung ano ano ang sinasabi mo e (Oh you, that’s why you get scolded for what you say),” Villar told  Angara.

“Natakot tuloy  ako e. Ayoko ng mag t-shirt baka ako rin mapagalitan e …

(It made me worried. I don’t like wearing a t-shirt anymore for I might get scolded, too)” she added.

During Tuesday’s session, Angara caught Senate President Vicente “Tito” Soto III’s attention when Majority  Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri announced on the Senate floor that the former was wearing his favorite Celtic uniform.

Sotto then reminded Angara in jest that wearing a t-shirt during sessions is not allowed. But the latter quickly clarified he was wearing a collared shirt and not a t-shirt.

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