(Updated 4:10 p.m.) Talent manager Ogie Diaz poked fun at the consecutive absences of 13 senators in the scheduled Senate plenary sessions.
Senate plenary sessions failed to proceed on Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2, due to the absence of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his colleagues, Senators Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva and Camille and Mark Villar.
Their absence came after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was detained on Monday after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with a plunder case linked to the flood control scandal.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, meanwhile, remains in hiding amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with his alleged role in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Former Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Raffy and Erwin Tulfo, Win Gatchalian, Migz Zubiri, JV Ejercito, Ping Lacson and Lito Lapid, on the other hand, attended the scheduled plenary sessions on Monday and Tuesday.
The consecutive absences of the senators have prompted calls for Cayetano’s resignation.
“What’s happened today is a clear abandonment of responsibility, a dereliction of duty, and blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution,” Sen. Erwin Tulfo said, reading their group’s statement.
“Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should resign as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate anymore,” he added.
The senators’ consecutive absences have also drawn reactions online, including from talent manager Ogie, who jokingly denied that the senators were absent as they were attending his workshops.
“Hindi po totoong ‘yung mga senador na ‘di pumasok today ay dahil sa a-attend po sila ng Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop,” he wrote in an Instagram Story on Tuesday, June 2, adding heart-eyed and laughing emojis.
“Sa June 27-28 pa po ang next basic acting workshop namin,” he added.
“Pero i-check din namin, baka nag-message nga ang mga senador sa fanpage ng Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop,” he concluded his Instagram story, adding emojis.
The Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop has been running since 2015. It has produced graduates including Heaven Peralejo, Isabel Ortega, Ivana Alawi, Nikko Natividad, David Licauco and Sazchna Laparan.
Online users have previously joked about senators joining “acting workshop” for their perceived “dramatic” behavior following the May 13 Senate shooting incident.
On May 20, Sen. Pia Cayetano made headlines after delivering an emotional response to Sen. Risa Hontiveros in a Senate session.
During the session, Hontiveros questioned how the Senate proceeded with operations as if nothing had happened in the institution.
Pia later had a sudden outburst, lamenting that none of their colleagues from the minority bloc had allegedly asked about their welfare following the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13.
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Meanwhile, the absence of some senators left several legislative measures pending, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers and the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill.
Bills granting Philippine citizenship to Filipino-American wrestler Matthew James Ramos and San Miguel import Bennie Boatwright III were also not acted upon.
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The first regular session of the 20th Congress was supposed to adjourn sine die on June 6.
However, Escudero made a surprise appearance in the Senate plenary today, June 3, allowing a quorum to be established. This led to the declaration of all chamber positions vacant, paving the way for reorganization and a sine die adjournment.
In a Facebook Live, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano described the move as “illegal coup d’etat” and said the chamber will proceed with a Senate Blue Ribbon hearing into the flood control scandal tomorrow, June 4.
Following the reconvened Session, Sen. Win was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Sen. Erwin was voted as the new chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Erwin said the Blue Ribbon committee hearing would be moved to Monday, June 8.
— with reports from Interaksyon/Rosette Adel, Philstar.com/Ian Laqui
