Two senators found themselves entangled in a web of parliamentary procedures, and social media is abuzz with their amusing exchange caught on video.
Senators JV Ejercito and Robin Padilla were attending a Senate session on a proposed National Hijab bill when things got a bit tangled up about parliamentary protocol.
As Padilla stood on the floor as the sponsor of the bill declaring February 1 as the National Day of Awareness on the Hijab and other Traditional Garments and Attire, Ejercito, who was presiding over the session, called on Padilla to accept the proposed amendments to the substitute bill.
A staff member was caught on video approaching Ejercito and guiding him through the parliamentary procedures.
“I hope that Senator Padilla as the sponsor, I hope you can first accept and move first so that we can move on with the motion, to move to accept,” Ejercito said, reading from a paper.
Padilla replied in Filipino: “Opo, opo, tinatanggap ko ang panukula.”
The same staff member, standing next to Ejercito, stepped in again and reminded him about the proper procedure for making a motion.
Ejercito spoke again, requesting Padilla: “If you can make a motion that the body accepts the amendments on the nature of the substitute bill. You have to move first that the body accepts the substitute bill. I-move ninyo lang po.”
In a moment captured on camera, Ejercito can be seen holding his two mics away and mouthing the words “I move” to Padilla in a bid to assist the rookie senator with the parliamentary motion.
Padilla then responded: “Opo. I move. English-in ko na ito.” “I move, Ginoong Pangulo. I move.”
The unexpected amusing exchange on parliamentary protocol sparked a suggestion of suspending the Senate session. Ejercito took charge and promptly ordered, ” “Session suspended.”
After a few minutes, the Senate session resumed with Padilla taking the floor again and confidently stating the motion in English.
“Mula sa Tagalog ay Eenglishin natin. I move that we amend the bill in the nature of a substitute by striking out all the text after the enacting clause and inserting the language or text contained in the substitute bill as distributed earlier today with the copy thereof filed with our bills and index service. Maraming salamat. I so move, Mr. President,” Padilla said.
Content with Padilla’s proper parliamentary motion, Ejercito responded: “Is there any objection? Dahil walang tumututol, ang inyong mosyon ay aprubado na po.”
A video clip of the parliamentary exchange has been posted on Senator Pia Cayetano’s Facebook page. She was about to make a manifestation of support for the bill when the Ejercito-Padilla exchange occurred.
The incident left some people amused and intrigued by the behind-the-scenes assistance during the Senate session.
Some compared the scene to a classroom setting, while others were frustrated at the senators’ supposed unfamiliarity with parliamentary procedures.
TikTok user @bad.h.e.r.o.e.s also posted a clip of the “I move” video. The caption read: “Mapapamura ka nalang talaga nagpapasahod tayo ng ganitong mga senador.”
Despite the momentary amusement, the upper chamber eventually approved Padilla’s bill on third and final reading on May 22.
Padilla thanked his colleagues for supporting Senate Bill 1410 that will help promote understanding among cultures, traditions, and faiths.
“Wala naman perpekto’: JV Ejercito defends Robin Padilla, admits own lapse in parliamentary procedure
