Cayetano, Zubiri in near fisticuffs after heated exchange

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Migz Zubiri were close to a fistfight after a heated exchange late Tuesday, Sept. 24, over a possible voter disenfranchisement issue.

At issue was a proposed concurrent resolution on the fate of Taguig City’s so-called EMBO (Enlisted Men’s Barrio) barangays that are yet to be classified in a congressional district, which Cayetano requested to tackle as the session was about to adjourn. Alan and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, are both from Taguig.

Videos that went viral showed the two senators were in a heated argument about the resolution during a session break when Zubiri described the resolution as a “local issue.”

Cayetano walked to the center aisle from his table and was approaching the rostrum then turned around, pointed his finger to Zubiri as he walked back: “Ano gusto mo [What do you want]?” Cayetano then slammed his phone on a table and was about to confront Zubiri.

Sen. JV Ejercito, who stood leaning on a table, approached his colleagues who were about to spar and separated them. Sen. Pia Cayetano walked towards her brother and drew him farther from the near-encounter. Senate Sergeant At Arms Roberto Ancan tried to calm down Zubiri as well.

The situation was tense after a moment of shouting, harsh words, and accusations about personal interests.

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Senate President Chiz Escudero said his colleagues have “amicably settled their differences, and have put this episode behind them.”

“The members of the Senate are passionate about their advocacies, and in the course of our proceedings it is natural that discussion and discourse can sometimes become heated,” Escudero said. “We are only human.”

He added: “Whatever our differences, however, we share a common goal: to serve our constituents and do right by them to the best of our ability. Senators Cayetano and Zubiri recognize this, which is why this matter was immediately resolved.”

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 was eventually adopted before the session adjourned.

What was the argument about?

As the session was about to end for the day, Cayetano objected to the motion to adjourn as he proposed to take up the concurrent resolution.

The resolution, which was non-binding, expresses the sense of the Senate to give residents of EMBO villages the right to vote for their congressional representative next year.

Ten EMBO barangays have been at the center of the Taguig-Makati land dispute. The Supreme Court eventually decided after many years of litigation that they are now part of Taguig.

The Senate eventually took up the concurrent resolution and gave Cayetano a chance to speak.

Zubiri raised two issues: the adoption of the concurrent resolution was not part of the day’s agenda, and if the move will have implications to Makati which is the turf of the Binays.

He clarified that he also does not want affected people to be disenfranchised.

“We do not want to be like other establishments na ano lang tayo in the midnight hour we are passing measures. No, we’re not like that,” Zubiri said.

Senate President Chiz Escudero said the staff has consulted Sen. Nancy Binay on the matter, confirming that the issue has nothing to do with Makati.

Cayetano and Zubiri ended up apologizing to each other when the session resumed.

Zubiri said he does not oppose the concurrent resolution after Cayetano clarified that he is not pushing for a new legislative district, and that Cayetano just wanted to ask the Commission on Elections to declare the barangays under the jurisdiction of Taguig’s two legislative districts so they can vote for a representative in Congress.

The midterm elections will be held in May 2025.