MANILA, Philippines – Tensions rose at the Senate session hall on Tuesday night, September 24, as senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Migz Zubiri clashed over a resolution seeking to include the 10 Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) barangays in Taguig City and Pateros, and confirming the increase of the number of councilors in each district of Taguig.

Their exchange happened around 9 pm, just before the adjournment of session. Zubiri questioned why the resolution was being discussed since it was not included in the agenda.

“We don’t want to be like other establishments, in the midnight hour we’re passing measures. No, we’re not like that. Senator Pia Cayetano knows that — that’s her pet peeve she doesn’t like to pass things in the middle of the night where nobody’s around,” Zubiri said.

The former Senate president acknowledged that the resolution addresses potential disenfranchisement of votes from the EMBO barangays but requested that it be discussed on Wednesday, September 25, the last session before the Senate’s one-month break.

“This is not a simple resolution…. Ang akin lang, sana explain sana sa amin ano itong pag-uusapan natin. (On my part, I wish someone will explain this issue that we will be discussing). I asked a colleague who previously represented these 10 EMBO barangays. She doesn’t also know what’s going on. Due courtesy please. Show some respect,” Zubiri said. He was referring to Senator Nancy Binay, his ally in their bloc known as the “Six Bomb.”

“I’m trying to get in touch with our colleague who is from Makati and I do not know. Does this have any implication to Senator Binay?” he added.

Cayetano replied, “I can state for the record, Mr. President has nothing to do with Makati anymore because all of these barangays are now under Taguig.”

The session was suspended, but during the break, the two senators were seen in a heated exchange that circulated on social media. Cayetano was heard telling Zubiri: “Pag lugar mo, pare, ilang beses kang nakiusap sa akin eh. Huwag mo ako sigawan. Ilang beses kang nakiusap ah.”

(When it’s about your turf, you made requests to me several times. Don’t shout at me. You made requests multiple times.)

Confrontation

Zubiri then approached Cayetano. “What do you want?” Cayetano snapped at Zubiri. Senators JV Ejercito and Pia Cayetano intervened to mediate and prevent further escalation.

When the session resumed, the two senators apologized to each other.

“It didn’t have to go that way and I apologize if I raised my voice. If this will help you, maybe we can take it up tomorrow. Ang akin lang diyan is nabigla ako at biglang may concurrent resolution about these barangays wala naman sa agenda today,” Zubiri said.

(My only point is that I was surprised that ther was a sudden concurrent resolution about these barangays, which wasn’t on today’s agenda.)

Cayetano also apologized, but maintained that the resolution should be tackled immediately.

“I don’t want to take the risk. Nakita ‘nyo naman y’ung mga ulan ngayon eh kung bumagyo bukas at mag-adjourn tayo? So walang taga-EMBO na puwedeng tumakbong congressman, walang pwedeng bumoto,” Cayetano said.

(I don’t want to take the risk. You’ve seen the rain lately—what if a storm hits tomorrow and we adjourn? Then there would be no one from EMBO who could run for congressman and no one who could vote.)

In the end, the Senate adopted the resolution.

In a text message to reporters late Tuesday night, Zubiri said he was shocked by the urgent need to address the issue.

“But after further discussion and explanation of Sen Alan and with cooler heads prevailing, [we] patched things up,” he said.

“I already agreed with the explanation that it’s not a creation of a new district and it’s only the sense of Congress,” Zubiri added.

The incident marked Cayetano’s latest clash with a colleague. In July, tensions also flared between him and Binay during a Senate probe into their new office in Taguig City.

– Rappler.com