Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Nancy Binay will see each other face-to-face in a bid to resolve their bickering over the New Senate Building (NSB) after its construction cost reportedly spiked from P8.9 billion to about P25-27 billion.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, said this is embodied in the conciliation process, which is a new rule he is implementing in his committee.
This is the first time that conciliation will be included in the ethics committee rules, according to Tolentino, in the hopes of reaching an amicable settlement among senators with disagreements. He said the mediation can help clear the air after tense debates and confrontations.
“There are outbursts—there are things that [were] probably said due to passion and the emotional combustion in a setting, which can probably be clarified in a more friendly atmosphere. ‘Why did I say this? The other person has apologized, right?’” Tolentino said.
The Senate majority leader said the meetings could help parties reach an understanding before formal hearings are launched.
It will be closed-door because “there are matters which we will leave to the complainant and the other person that should be settled on a personal basis, but there is also a transparency.” Tolentino said the results will be made public.
“If the conciliation process fails to settle the case, a proper hearing will follow,” Tolentino said.
Aside from Cayetano and Binay, five other committee members will participate in the conciliation process.
Tolentino is hopeful that the conflict between Cayetano and Binay will be settled since he’s talking to these “honorable people” who understand the importance of unity.
Binay filed on July 8 an ethics complaint against Cayetano over his alleged “unparliamentary act and language” during the July 3 hearing on the NSB.
She resented Cayetano for calling her “Marites” (rumor-mongering) and “Buang” (crazy) and sowing chaos after she was allowed to attend the hearing despite not being a member.
Tolentino led the committee organizational meeting on Wednesday and approved the 21-page committee rules. It will take effect 15 days after publication.
