SENATE President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday, July 24, revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte got irritated over the leadership squabble at the House of Representatives and almost walked out of the Batasang Pambansa.
"Obviously nainis sya. Gusto na nga mag-walkout. Sabi ko Mayor, doon ka na lang sa Senate mag-Sona (State of the Nation Address). Doon natawa," Sotto said.
(He was obviously irked. He wanted to walk out. I told him: Mayor, just deliver your Sona at the Senate. That was when he laughed.)
The leadership row stole the President's thunder on Monday, the schedule for his third Sona.
Majority of the House's 287 members had ousted then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and expressed support for Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new Speaker shortly before the President arrived.
The leadership row caused a delay of about 75 minutes, within which the President was made to wait in the holding area.
The squabble was temporarily resolved when the President requested that Alvarez be allowed to co-preside the joint session with Sotto so he can deliver his Sona.
The coup was finalized after the Sona, with Arroyo getting 184 votes supporting her leadership.
"Hindi naging maganda ang pagpalit ng liderato sa HOR (The change in leadership was not done properly).
They can do that anytime in a duly constituted plenary session. It appeared to be a rump session. Even the mace was missing. They could have done it in a better way," Sotto said.
He was quick to say, however, that the Senate is prepared to work with Arroyo.
Sotto maintained that the welfare of the Filipino people should be paramount.
Senator Nancy Binay said the no-elections issue is expected to simmer down with the change in House leadership.
"Tuloy yung eleksyon (The elections will proceed)," she said. (PS Jun Sarmiento/VoxPop Philippines)