Cayetano suspends Laguna de Bay briefing due to LLDA head’s absence

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano during a Senate hearing (File photo from Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday moved to suspend the briefing of Senate on issues affecting Laguna de Bay due to the absence of the head of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

Cayetano identified the officer as LLDA Acting General Manager (GM) Senando Santiago.

According to the senator, Santiago called late Thursday night to inform the committee that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.

“LLDA, you know that I love you but I don’t like what your GM has done today. The basis of relationship is respect so if he doesn’t respect this committee, I don’t respect him either,” said Cayetano in a mix of English and Filipino.

“I will not proceed with this hearing. I will suspend but I will not leave you because I will talk to you [in] groups to get to know what our steps moving forward really are. But I will not allow him to insult the committee,” he maintained.

The briefing was then suspended by Cayetano.

No information was provided on when the proceeding will resume.

A meeting brief from Senate showed LLDA was supposed to give updates on its ongoing programs and projects, as well as issues and challenges affecting Laguna de Bay.

The discussion of Bases Conversion and Development Authority Charter Amendment and Laguna Lake Conservation Act were also included in the agenda.

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