Senators take to Twitter after ‘walkouts, debates’ mark hearing

Like many netizens, some senators watched and observed the conduct of their colleagues as they engaged in a heated debate during the Senate hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings late Monday night.

“17th Congress setting a record for walkouts and heated exchanges,” Senator Sonny Angara said on Twitter.

Angara was apparently referring to Senator Leila de Lima, who walked out from the hearing conducted led by the Senate committee on justice and human rights, after a verbal tussle with its chair, Senator Richard Gordon and some of the committee members.

De Lima, a neophyte senator, also walked out from the Senate session hall last September 19 while Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was delivering a privilege speech against the probe.

READ: De Lima storms out of Senate probe into killings

After Cayetano’ speech, the lady senator was ousted as chair of the committee upon the motion of Senator Manny Pacquiao. De Lima was immediately replaced by Gordon.

“Mabuhay ang 17th Congress! Let’s wrap up this issue in this particular committee and move forward,” Senator Joel Villanueva also wrote on Twitter.

Responding to Angara and Villanueva’s tweets, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said: “So many problems and issues that need attention. Let us not waste more time in political bickering.”

“Glad that my seatmates are working hard to address more important issues and problems,” Ejercito added.

Before this, Ejercito posted a photo also on Twitter having dinner with his “seatmates” in the Senate, which included Angara, Villanueva, and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The caption of the photo reads: “After a hard day’s work, it’s good to unwind with my seatmates at the Senate.” CDG

READ: Gordon, De Lima feud over Matobato kidnap case; drug slay hearing stopped