Outgoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday, June 15 that Senator-elect Robin Padilla could debate with his fellow senators in Filipino, if he wants to.
‘’That is indeed an option if you have difficulty in the English language but you cannot force the others to interpellate in Filipino,’’ Sotto said.
Sotto, however, pointed out that ‘’The Senate journal, rules, index and bills are all written in English, not to mention the Constitution.’’
Senators, including Padilla, are expected to attend the opening of the 19th Congress on July 25.
Padilla, after a briefing by Senate officials on legislative procedures and processes at the Senate building Tuesday, told Senate reporters that he would be debating with fellow senators but in Tagalog.
‘’Eh una, hindi naman Amerikano ang mga kaharap ko, Alangan mag-English ako (In the first place, I will not be facing Americans. I will be out of place if I talk in English),’’ he pointed out.
Senator-elect Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero defended Padilla’s position.
‘’I myself speak in Filipino on the floor since I was a Congressman in 1998... There is nothing wrong with it and it is allowed by the rules,’’ Escudero said.
Senator-elect Jose ‘’Jinggoy’’ Estrada also supported Padilla.
‘’Well, there seems to be no problem with it. Remember during the impeachment trial of CJ (Chief Justice) Corona, I was speaking in our native language in order for the masa (the public) to understand it well,’’ Estrada said.
‘’In fact, there is no rule in the Senate that bars you from speaking in our own language,’’ he added.