‘I WAS NOT SPEAKING ABOUT OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS’
Senator Risa Hontiveros had to clarify her “para bang walang nangyari” remark on the Senate shooting incident after Senator Pia Cayetano emotionally questioned her statement during the plenary session on Wednesday.
In her privilege speech, Hontiveros called on her colleagues not to “act as though nothing happened” last week, saying the chamber’s “dignity, credibility, and moral authority” had been affected by the shooting incident and other controversies, including Senator Bato dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate amid tensions surrounding his possible arrest.
However, Cayetano seemingly misunderstood Hontiveros’ remarks, interpreting them as downplaying the gunfire in the Senate that she and other senators from the majority bloc witnessed on May 13, 2026.
“‘Parang walang nangyari.’ ‘Yan po ang statement ng ating butihing Senadora Risa Hontiveros. Siguro po, para sa inyong mga wala dito, pero para sa amin na nandito, napakaraming nangyari. Takot na takot po ako na kailangan ko na magpaalam sa mga anak ko,” Cayetano said.
“I was speaking about our institutional posture. Our grief as senators is valid, but our mandate requires action,” Hontiveros responded.
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