Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that he is ready to file counter charges against fellow Senator Robin Padilla in the event the latter formally files an ethics complaint against him. 

Pangilinan made the statement on Tuesday night, May 12, after he and Padilla figured in a heated debate discussing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. 

“Kung sakali man, sasagutin ko ng kontra-reklamo sa Ethics Committee sa kanyang paglabag sa parliamentary rules at pagiging out of order at sa kawalan ng proper decorum, ang pagbabanta sa akin, pananakot at paninindak sa akin sa plenary session kanina habang naka recess (Just in case, I will file a counter-complaint with the Ethics Committee for his violation of parliamentary rules and being out of order and lacking proper decorum, threatening me, intimidating and intimidating me in the plenary session earlier while it was recess),” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“Hindi uubra ang pambubully at pa siga-siga sa akin. Mas may basehang kasuhan yang pasiga-siga, pambabastos at ang kawalan ng proper decorum sa kapwa senador sa Senado. Lahat on record (Bullying and scolding me will not work. There is more basis for a lawsuit for scolding, insulting and lacking proper decorum towards fellow senators in the Senate. Everything is on record),” the senator added.

“Ayaw ko ng away. Hindi ako palaaway pero hindi ko aatrasan ang sinuman kung ang gusto ay kasuhan (I don't like fights. I'm not a person who instigate fights but I won't back down from anyone if they want to sue),” he said.

Pangilinan said this is the first time that he will encounter an ethics complaint in the Senate because a senator shouted or raised his voice at a colleague, something that usually happens during plenary debates in the Upper Chamber.

“Sa haba na panahon ko dito sa Senado at sa dami ng sigawan o pagtataas ng boses na nangyari na rito, ngayon lang siguro magkaka-ethics case na ganito (In my long time in the Senate and with the amount of shouting or raising of voice that has happened here, maybe this is the only time there will be an ethics case like this),” the lawmaker noted. 

“Yung pagtataas ng boses sa mainit na debate ay hindi man kagustuhan ay hindi naiiwasan at malimit na nangyayari sa plenaryo. Kung laban sa ethics yun, marami na sanang mga senador ang sinampahan at pinarusahan. Zero cases (Raising one's voice in a heated debate is not desirable, but it is unavoidable and often happens in the plenary. If that were against ethics, many senators would have been charged and punished. Zero cases),” he pointed out.

“Huwag maging balat sibuyas. Walang legal na basehan at walang kwenta ang ethics case complaint na yan. Hintayin na lang natin yung reklamo niya (Don't be an onion-skinned. That ethics case complaint has no legal basis and is worthless. Let's just wait for his complaint),” he stressed.

During Tuesday’s plenary session, Pangilinan had proposed that manifestations on the issuance of the ICC arrest warrant be referred and discussed at the Senate Committee on Rules to pave the way for more discussions.

But Padilla vehemently interjected, leading Pangilinan to raise his voice and say : “I still have the floor,” directing his appeal to the Senate leader.

A few minutes later, Padilla made a manifestation asking if senators are allowed to shout at their colleagues. He claimed that Pangilinan shouted at him a few minutes ago after they debated on Dela Rosa’s predicament.

Pangilinan tried to explain his side and make amends but the latter rejected his attempt to resolve the matter with a handshake. Even Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda tried to intervene, but Padilla was adamant in refusing Pangilinan’s apology.

Padilla said he cannot accept being shouted at publicly: “Hindi ko matatanggap ‘yung natural ang sigawan. Not me. Sila kung gusto nila magsigawan sila. Hindi ako kasama dun (I cannot accept their reason it was natural for senators to shout at each other. Not me. They can shout as much as they want but exclude me from it).”

Padilla said he wants Pangilinan to apologize to him on the floor, because he shouted at him while the Senate is in session.

“Mag-apologize siya. Kailangan sa plenary niya gawin, kasi sa plenary niya ako sinigawan eh (He has to apologize to me. He should do it on the floo, because he shouted at me while plenary is in session),” the actor said.