The hearing on the new Senate Building in Taguig City conducted by the Committee on Accounts kicked off last Wednesday (July 3) with its new chairman, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, and his predecessor, Sen. Nancy Binay, trading bards for almost 20 minutes and ended with the latter’s walk out. Quite a spectacle.
Binay did not take it sitting down. Yesterday (July 8), she filed a complaint against Sen. Cayetano before the Committee on Ethics for his “ungentlemanly behavior” that included calling the lady senator “Marites,” which is a derisive term for rumor-monger; and “Nabuang (Crazy) ka na, Day!” during the course of the hearing.
While the netizens watching last week’s “telenovela-like” hearing found it entertaining, former Sen. Ping Lacson described the exchange as “painful to watch,” a sentiment that resonates with many who expect decorum and constructive dialogue in legislative affairs.
For those not in the know, the debate centered around the escalating costs of the new Senate building, a project that is supposed to symbolize the upper chamber’s dignity. Initially estimated at PHP 8.9 billion, the cost has reportedly ballooned to PHP 23.3 billion, raising concerns and prompting a review ordered by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Binay has contested the PHP 23 billion figure, while Cayetano insisted it originated from her staff. Insults and name calling followed. After the hearing, Binay retaliated with the word “Matet” to describe Cayetano. For years, the senator has earned the nickname “Matet” due to his broad forehead, which bears a resemblance to the former child star Matet De Leon.
No doubt, their feud has overshadowed the project’s significance and has become emblematic of a larger issue: the need for transparency and accountability in government spending.
In agreement with former Sen. Ping, it is imperative that our lawmakers demonstrate the ability to engage in respectful and productive discourse, especially when the stakes involve the nation’s resources and trust. The hope is that this situation will lead to a renewed commitment to uphold the values of integrity and collaboration for a better Philippines.
Senate President Escudero, meanwhile, tried to downplay last week’s showdown between Binay and Cayetano, saying this kind of scenario has happened in the past.
In a media interview over the weekend, Escudero said that senators are human beings, and not robots immune to emotions. He assured the public that the incident, though unfortunate, was a natural part of the Senate’s dynamics and won’t hinder their legislative duties.
According to Escudero, such incidents are not unprecedented in the Senate’s history, recalling past heated confrontations involving respected and long-serving senators. He pointed out that seasoned senators have all had their moments of heated exchanges, with some ending in walkouts.
He asked the public to understand that while emotions sometimes surface, this does not affect the senators’ positions, principles, or the truth they seek to uncover.
For his part, the Senate President said he is committed to reduce the projected cost of the new Senate building from P23 billion to a more feasible amount, stressing that excessive expenditure leaves a bad taste in the mouth in the face of challenging economic times.
His goal is to bring down the project cost to between P15 billion and P17 billion from the current estimate of almost P23 billion covering P21 billion for the construction of the building and P1.6 billion for land acquisition.
Let me end by saying that the ongoing construction of the new Senate building should be a unifying milestone, not a point of contention. It is a collective aspiration for the Senate to have a home that reflects its esteemed role in governance. As the discussions move forward, it is crucial that all parties involved prioritize the common good, ensuring that the new Senate building stands not only as a physical edifice but as a symbol of the Senate’s honorable service to the nation.
