Senators agree to set aside differences

MANILA, Philippines – Senators called for a “ceasefire” in the Senate Monday so they could get on with their legislative duties.

“Let’s stop all this discussion and start with the work of legislation because we only have six (session) days left,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told reporters.

Enrile was referring to the recent word war in the Senate over his controversial “Christmas cash gifts” amounting to P1.6 million that were given as additional Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) to 18 senators December last year.

Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Enrile engaged in a verbal tussle during session last week after Cayetano called for an audit of how the Senate uses its funds.

Cayetano, his older sister Pia Cayetano, Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Miriam Defensor Santiago had all received only P600,000 as MOOE.

Enrile had earlier claimed the MOOE was sourced from the savings of the Senate budget for 2012.

The heated exchange between Cayetano and Enrile became personal as Cayetano alleged Enrile had relations with his Chief of Staff, Gigi Reyes. Enrile hit back by saying that Cayetano’s father, the late Rene Cayetano, still owes him P37 million.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III said that he would appeal to any senator who wants to have a privilege speech to set it aside instead so that they can pass the bills that are in the third reading stage.

Senator Edgardo Angara also said that he would urge his fellow senators to refrain from making verbal pronouncements while the country is hosting an international conference of parliamentarians.

The fifth Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) is set to be held in the Philippine Convention Center from January 30 to February 2. Around 600 delegates from around the world including 165 Philippine lawmakers are expected to attend the four-day conference.

Angara said that the Senate should set their bickering aside just for the meantime “as courtesy to the guests.”

“It’s the more proper and the decent thing to do [but we will not] brush the problem under the rug. Just let at least four days pass,” Angara said.

Senator Lacson, who has a separate argument with Santiago that stemmed from the “cash gifts” issue, has also said he will “issue a unilateral ceasefire,” in consideration of her illness and in order to prevent tarnishing the reputation of the Senate further.