Senators on Cayetano-Zubiri dispute: “We are only human”

MANILA, Philippines — A heated exchange took place between Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri in the Senate session hall Tuesday night, but the senators maintained Wednesday that lawmakers are “only human” who are sometimes overwhelmed by emotions.

Cayetano and Zubiri clashed over the passage of a resolution to include 10 barangays of Embo in the two legislative districts of Taguig and Pateros and confirming the increase in the number of councilors in each area for fair and equitable representation.

READ: Cayetano, Zubiri trade barbs over Embo barangay resolution

In an interview on Wednesday, Senate President Francis Escudero said this was not the first time such an incident occurred in the upper chamber.

“Tao lamang kami.” Senators defend their interests with passion and emotions sometimes run high. Nakisama ako sa paghingi ng tawad dahil… late na, pagod na marahil dahil sa trabahong ginagawa nom,” he said.

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(We are only human. Members of the Senate are passionate about their advocacy and sometimes emotions run high. I was one of those who excused myself… because it was already late and we were probably all tired from the tasks we had accomplished during the day.)

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READ: Escudero on Cayetano-Zubiri feud: No reason to punish them

The Senate president said the incident occurred while the session was suspended and was therefore not recorded in the chamber’s records.

“Agad naman silang nagkabati et naghingian ng tawad,” Escudero said.

(They immediately made up and apologized to each other.)

“Uulitin ko: tao lamang. Minsan mataas the emosyon kaugnay sa pinaniniwalaan, pinaglalaban, and adbokasiya na sana is maunawaan your ninyo. Tulad lamang din ninyo, (kami ay) naliligo, nagbabanyo, et minsan mataas ang emosyon,” he added.

(I repeat: we are only human. Sometimes our emotions run high, especially when it comes to things we believe in, fight for, and defend, which is why I hope you understand as well. Like you, we wash ourselves, use the bathroom, and are sometimes overwhelmed by our emotions.)

In the viral video, Cayetano and Zubiri are seen raising their voices at each other.

At the height of the argument, Senator Pia Cayetano hugged her younger brother. Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito also rushed to arrest Zubiri and Alan Peter.

At a separate press conference, also on Wednesday, Ejercito was asked to reveal his thoughts on the feud.

“That’s how democracy is. Sometimes we don’t have the same opinions or views. Minsan can be passionate, maybe emotional. Siyempre kung ganon kaimportante sa’yo, so ganun talaga. At least we are only human to napakita natin dito na talagang hindi tayo, ano lang… kumbaga gumagana yung demokrasya, magkakaiba yung opinion, magkakaiba yung pananaw. But in the end, all’s well that ends well. At least nagkaayos naman noong huli,” he said.

(Sometimes there are those who are passionate and emotional. Of course, you will feel that way if it is important to you. At least we are only human, and it just shows that democracy works and there are differing opinions. But in the end, all’s well that ends well, at least they made up in the end.)

For his part, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said it was “not a good incident” that happened in the plenary session of the House, but he stressed that it just shows how serious Zubiri and Cayetano are in their work.

“There is an intense desire to yung kanilang na magampanan yung trabaho nila like senator kaya umabot on point natagang nagsisigawan. Mabuti na lang, hindi nagkasakitan. Talaga of Nakasigawa. It’s good. I am informed na nagbalikan naman sila ng loob. Parang nag-reconcile Sila,” he added.

(It just showed how much they wanted to do their job as senators, which is why they got to the point where they raised their voices. The good news is that they didn’t hurt each other, they just raised their voices. That’s good. I’m informed that they immediately reconciled.)