Hontiveros: Senate gunfire an affront to institution
Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Photo from Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the gunfire heard inside the Senate last week should not be treated as a political spectacle, but as an unprecedented affront to the institution and the people it serves.
“This is no small matter,” Hontiveros said in a privilege speech. “This should not be left to Facebook Live, press conferences and media interviews to piece together what happened.”
Hontiveros said gunfire had never erupted inside the Senate, even during coup attempts or “the darkest days of Martial Law.”
“The situation stooped so low that here, in and around these same august halls, someone could cock a gun in front of civilians,” she said.
READ: Pia Cayetano sobs over Hontiveros’ remark on Senate shooting
The incident stemmed from Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s appearance at the Senate on May 11 after months of absence, when he voted in the leadership change that installed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
His appearance triggered tension after National Bureau of Investigation agents sought to arrest him. The Senate later placed him under protective custody.
The standoff escalated on May 13 when gunshots were heard inside the Senate building. Authorities later found that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan Aplasca fired dozens of warning shots toward NBI agents in an adjacent government building, prompting his suspension.
Dela Rosa later left the Senate premises, together with Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
Hontiveros said the Senate, whether viewed from the minority or majority, “has sustained a profound injury to its dignity, credibility and moral authority before the Filipino people.”
She said the incident went beyond politics, especially after gunfire caused fear among employees, media workers, security personnel and civilians.
“When someone fires a gun right here in the People’s House, when fear is spread among employees, media, security personnel and civilians, when people are traumatized by violence and go home trembling and uneasy in their own homes, this is beyond politics,” Hontiveros said.
“It is disrespect and abuse of everything entrusted to the Senate as public servants,” she added.
Hontiveros said democracy allows disagreement but not aggression or humiliation.
“We cannot have a culture that proudly treats fellow Filipinos as enemies to be defeated, all in the name of clout,” she said.
She also lamented what she described as the decline of political discourse in the country.
“Has our politics in the Philippines really sunk this low? Is this who we are now?” Hontiveros asked.
The senator said Filipinos should not allow political divisions to erase compassion, decency and patriotism.
“I refuse to believe that Filipinos are blind followers of any politician. I refuse to believe that there is no compassion, shame or love for country left,” she said.
Hontiveros noted that lawmakers from opposing political sides had worked together in passing important legislation.
“All of the laws I myself have championed could not have passed without the support of those from across the political aisle,” she said.
She urged senators to rise above political divisions and prove worthy of public trust.
“That is why we cannot act as though nothing happened last week. We know what is right and wrong. We know when someone has gone too far,” Hontiveros said.
“And this is what the country needs from us now: for the Senate, in this difficult hour, to reflect the best of our people.” /dm
