Senate not a noontime TV show, Dela Rosa tells Sotto leadership

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA,  Philippines – The Senate is not a noontime TV show which is full of gimmicks, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela  Rosa reminded the leadership of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday.

Sotto, who  reclaimed  the Senate presidency on Sept 8., was one of the original hosts of the long-running noontime variety show  Eat Bulaga.

Taking the Senate floor on Monday, Dela Rosa raised his concern over Sotto’s reported  remark that  the minority group in the chamber was resorting to gimmicks when it criticized the leadership’s decision to transfer the custody of former Public Works and Highways District Engineer Brice Hernandez from the Senate in Pasay City to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Quezon City.

The transfer was upon the request of Speaker Martin Romualdez after Hernandez linked Sens. Jinggoy  Estrada and  Joel Villanueva to alleged anomalous flood control projects. 

“That’s just a gimmick by the minority. Don’t they even consider that maybe Martin Romualdez is my lapdog? They’re quick to accuse — just because I granted the request for the tricom, now I’m suddenly a puppet? Did I do anything illegal? Was the request from the House of Representatives illegal? No. What do they want — for me to pick a fight with the House of Representatives on Day 1? Let them die of resentment,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.

“I’m just saddened by two things. First, the line ‘let them die of resentment.’ Mr. President, you can’t kill us with resentment — because we no longer harbor any. We’ve already accepted that we are the minority. What hurt us was: why did there have to be a need to ‘kill’ us with resentment? We’ve already come to terms with being the minority,” he added.

“Secondly, that’s merely a gimmick from the minority. Let’s remember — the Senate is not a noontime variety show filled with stunts and theatrics. We are here to do serious work,” Dela Rosa also said.

Sotto, who was presiding over the session, explained that he was addressing the trolls when he remarked “let them die of resentment.”

“They completely misunderstood. I’m not even supposed to do this — I’m not supposed to respond here in the rostrum — but I can’t help it because you took the floor and it felt like you were calling out the Senate President, which is very unparliamentary. But nevertheless, I will respond,” said Sotto.

With regard to Hernandez’s transfer  to the PNP Custodial Center,  Sotto explained that the request of the House was to get custody of the former official which he said he rejected.

“Is that what you call being a puppet? So you can’t help but think that I’d get upset when I’m being accused with words, right?”

From the PNP Custodial Center, Hernandez was transferred to Pasay City Jail but he was brought back to the Senate this Monday. /gsg