Escudero defends Binay, Cayetano over recent Senate building row

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero —OS Escudero/SMU

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has appealed to the public on Saturday for understanding on the recent behavior of some of his fellow senators during session.

According to Escudero, senators have emotions, too.

“Perhaps, this is part of the humanity of the members of the Senate—your senators are not emotionless robots,” Escudero said in a radio interview on DWIZ 882.

READ: Binay, Cayetano trade barbs at Senate hearing

“I wish that our countrymen would understand that sometimes, venting do happen—but not always—among members of the Senate,” he added.

“What is more important for us to consider is that the search for truth, what is proper, what is just, and what is right should not be delayed just because two, one, three, or even five of our senators vent their feelings,” he added.

READ: Binay mulls filing ethics complaint vs Cayetano

Escudero made the statement following a clash between Senators Nancy Binay and Alan Cayetano on Wednesday.

The two senators were in a Senate inquiry on the proposed new Senate building that will be built in Taguig.

Cayetano said that the total cost of the building was marked at P23 billion, but Binay said that it was only at P21 billion.

The disagreement led to Binay walking out of the hearing, and on Thursday, she said that she was thinking of filing an ethics complaint over the incident.