The Senate needs a “better unifier” to bridge deep divisions within the chamber, as continuing conflicts could hurt its legislative work and its role in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Former Senate president Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III made the statement on Sunday in an interview with radio dzBB, saying he was “dismayed” by the situation in the Senate, where disagreements among senators appeared to have become personal.
Pimentel said Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who “volunteered” to lead the chamber, must learn to work with the 11-member minority.
“Yung kailangan mag-adjust ka kasi ang realidad sa Senado natin ay kaunti ang members, 24, malaki pa ang klase sa classroom na mga 30 to 40 yan eh. Itong Senado 24… dapat marunong kang makibagay. So, kailangan ng ‘konting’ unity, hindi kailangan nang puro disunity, away, o bangayan,” Pimentel said.
“You need to adjust because the reality is we only have 24 members of the Senate. That’s a small number compared to a classroom, which has 30 to 40 students. You must learn how to get along with your colleagues. So, a little unity can be helpful, not always disunity, conflict, or heated debates which later become personal,” he added.
Pimentel recalled that during his time as minority leader, he engaged in heated debates with colleagues, especially on policies and proposals, but said they could still have coffee together afterward because they did not take arguments personally.
He said Cayetano has an “extreme” personality and should change it for the good of the institution.
Pimentel said that if the Senate remains paralyzed by conflict, Cayetano may have to consider whether he is fit for the job.
“Kasi nag-volunteer ka to be a leader ng chamber mo, tapos ang chamber mo walang magawa kasi puro away. So, baka maisip na baka ’di pala ako para dito. I have to step back at ibigay natin ito for the good of the chamber, hindi yung before my own good,” he said.
He said Cayetano may enjoy the honor and responsibility of being Senate president, the third-highest official in the line of government succession, but warned that he could end up leading a chamber “na walang patutunguhan,” or one without direction.
“So, nahawakan mo na ’yan. Nakita mo na ‘hoy teka muna, maybe it’s not for me’ or ‘maybe this is not yet for me, yung time. So, let’s get a better unifier to run the Senate,’” Pimentel said.
He clarified that any decision to step down should come from Cayetano himself.
“Yung pagbaba ay sa sarili niya manggagaling ’yon,” Pimentel said, adding that senators concerned about the institution may eventually ask whether the chamber can still accomplish anything with only two years left in their term and the filing of certificates of candidacy set next year.
Pimentel said the Senate’s deep division has delayed the passage of proposed measures and may lead some senators to question whether they want to be part of an institution that could go down in history as having achieved little.
He also said the disunity could affect the Senate’s handling of Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Although ibang function na ng Senado ’yun, pero they are the same group of people,” Pimentel said.
He said that if senators cannot work together as lawmakers, it would be difficult to expect them to have a good working relationship when they sit as an impeachment court.
Pimentel also opposed moves to ease the Senate rules on virtual attendance in plenary proceedings, saying the existing teleconferencing rules are sufficient.
He said the rules, first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, still apply only in situations involving force majeure or a national emergency that would prevent senators from physically attending sessions.
“Ready na ’yun, alam nila ’yan, pero ang gagawin yata nila ay mas madali na ang mag-video conference eh. Hindi na justified ’yun,” he said.
He also said allowing detained senators to attend sessions virtually would still depend on their custodians.
“Para sa nakakulong, mapapahiya pa ang Senate rules kasi ang merong final decision sa nakakulong ay yung custodian niya, yung chief ng jail niya. Puwede sabihin ng chief ng jail na hindi puwede,” Pimentel said.
He said the current rules are sound because they allow video conferencing only in extreme situations that affect not only senators but also the rest of society.
Pimentel warned that if the majority bloc pushes through with Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s motion, it would only deepen the divide between the majority and minority.
“Kasi nga kung ipipilit, hindi ka na naman magiging great unifier kasi nga puro controversial issues yung pinu-push mo na covered na ng rules eh,” he said.
“I mean, sa laki ng opposition mo, you should be a unifier,” he added.