Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis ‘Chiz” Escudero has initiated moves to stop the squabbling in the Senate over the alleged millions of pesos given to senators last year, saying it has been affecting the image of the institution.
Escudero, in a morning show on television on Monday, said that he talked to Senate President Juan Ponce- Enrile Sunday night and some other friends to put an end to the bickering.
“I talked to Senator Enrile, I also talked to (some friends) na matigil, para matigil na yung bangayan kasi naapektuhan na talaga ang Senado (to stop the squabbling because it is really affecting the Senate),” he said.
“Nakakalungkot na nagbabangayan sila at ang ginagamit na mga salita e personal. At ang pinag ugatan pa ng away na masama sa panlasa e pera,” said the Senator.
The quarrel stemmed from the alleged unfair distribution of additional maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) when Enrile gave senators P1.6 million each last December except for four— Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.
Escudero noted how a dead person was dragged into the controversy apparently referring to Enrile who brought up an old debt of Cayetano’s father, the late Senator Rene Cayetano, during a heated debate last week and the seeming loss of respect to an older person.
Cayetano and Trillanes, who had a tiff with Enrile, are the youngest members of the Senate.