Osmeña tells Santiago: Instead of berating colleagues, reach out

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—“Don’t be confrontational with your own colleagues,” was Senator Serge Osmeña III’s advice for Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday, a day after she slammed members of the Commission on Appointments.

Santiago protested Wednesday what she perceived as a “plot” to deprive her veto power when the CA scheduled the plenary session to deliberate on Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman’s confirmation on June 11, 2014, the last day of session before Congress adjourns sine die. Santiago previously expressed that she would block Soliman’s confirmation.

Under the rules, any member of the CA may invoke Section 20 to block a nominee’s confirmation except on the last day of session before Congress adjourns sine die.

Osmeña said that instead of attacking her colleagues, Santiago should learn to reach out to them.

“In the Filipino culture, lambingan lang ‘yan e (it’s just a case of massaging one’s ego),” he said during the weekly forum Kapihan sa Senado.

“Her (Santiago) style will not fit well with the Filipino culture,” Osmeña said.

Besides, he said, it was the rule, and Santiago should have objected to that rule a long time ago.