Inappropriate behavior

Senate President Franklin Drilon was definitely out of order when he raised his voice at a fellow senator Nancy Binay during last Thursday’s Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the overpriced Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Binay was asking DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson on where the funding for the project had come from. Singson was giving vague answers. Binay asked him, “was there a legislator who sourced the funds for project?”

Drilon flared up. “Stop beating around the bush. Why don’t you mention my name? Sinabi ko na nga na ako ang naghanap ng pundo para diyan eh!”

That display of temper in a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing might have been acceptable had it come from a member.

But Drilon was not there as a Senator; he had inhibited himself and was there as an ordinary resource person. At that precise moment, he had voluntarily stripped himself of his position as Senate President for purposes of the investigation. He was involved in the project.

Drilon’s inappropriate behavior wasn’t confined to his temper tantrum.

During the course of questioning by Senators Serge Osmena and Koko Pimentel, Drilon was unable to restrain himself from interjecting and whispering (audibly) answers for Singson and DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez. He cued them for their answers.

It was a clear breach of rules. He was behaving more of counsel for Singson and Jimenez. His demeanor betrayed an apprehension that Singson and Jimenez might blurt out answers that would prejudice him. That the Chairman, Senator TG Guingona, just left him alone in doing that reinforced the perception that the BRC was going to protect the Senate President.