Sen. Robin Padilla has defended senators from criticisms over a supposed lack of decorum affecting the picture of the Senate.
According to Mav Gonzales’ report on “24 Oras”, Padilla himself introduced up the time when he combed his mustache within the Senate as a part of his response to the adversarial views.
“Wala naman sa guidelines of Senate bawal magsuklay ng bigote. Kung nandu’n ýun at sinabi nila ‘yun, hindi ko na gagawin. Wala naman masama d’on lalo na kung tikwas-tikwas yung bigote ko,” Padilla said.
(There’s nothing in the Senate rules against combing one’s mustache. If it’s there and they said that, I would not do it again. There’s nothing about that especially if there are fly-aways in my mustache.)
Former Sen. Franklin Drilon last week said, “The Senate leadership bears the responsibility of protecting the prestige of the Senate.”
Drilon was first elected to the Senate in 1995 and had been elected to several terms until his last one ended in 2022.
He served as Senate President and held other leadership positions in the chamber.
“I hope my former colleagues are not onion-skinned but the fact is undeniably, the perception of the Senate by the public has been eroded by what has been observed as a lack of proper decorum,” Drilon said.
Padilla said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva had been keen on reminding senators of the proper decorum.
“Di naman nagkukulang ang pinunong mayorya pagdating sa decorum. Bago kami lumabas dyan sa lounge, ‘yun ang laging paalala ng Majority Floor Leader. ‘Oh, wag masyado maingay’,” Padilla said.
(The majority leader had not been remiss in telling us about the quorum. Before we leave the lounge, he always reminds us not to be too noisy.
He said the leadership had been consistent in reminding senators to listen and be mindful of the quorum.
“Masasabi na di maayos takbo ng Senado kung wala kaming naipasang batas,” Padilla said.
(You can say that the Senate is not running properly if we fail to pass laws.)
Padilla said there may be instances when the senators were “loud” but added they were not sleeping or playing games on their phones during the sessions.
Drilon did not specify which events he considered “loud” but several Senate sessions have been paused due to noise.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has admitted to laughing loudly and sometimes raising his voice during hearings.
“Nakalimutan ko minsan senador na ako. Akala ko pulis pa rin ako… Naca-carried away ako sa emosyon ko,” Dela Rosa said.
(I sometimes forget that I am already a senator. I think I’m still a policeman… I get carried away by my emotion.)
“Okay rin na makinig tayo sa kanila. It won’t make us a lesser legislator when you’re prepared to study from veterans,” he added.
(It’s additionally good that we take heed to them. It received’t make us a lesser legislator when you’re prepared to study from veterans.)
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada mentioned constructive criticisms have been a part of democracy, including the shortage of correct decorum was trigger for fear.
GMA Integrated News reached out to Senators Raffy Tulfo and Bong Revilla for his or her feedback.
For former Senate President Vicente Sotto III mentioned the first-termers shouldn’t take the feedback personally.
“Take it as a learning step. I think that’s the most important thing that they have to realize. There is a tradition that is followed in the Senate,” Sotto mentioned. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
