Learning never stops and nobody is perfect, according to Senator JV Ejercito.
Ejercito sought to set the record straight about the recent coaching session that went down on the Senate floor.
The two senators were caught in a pickle over parliamentary procedures while discussing proposed National Hijab day at the Senate. A viral video of the senators’ exchange has left netizens either amused or dismayed with their supposed lack of familiarity with parliamentary protocols.
In a statement on Facebook, Ejercito first defended Padilla from criticisms on being coached on how to make a proper motion. According to Ejercito, Padilla is always eager to learn and fully participates in the upper chamber’s discussions.
“Hindi naman sa dinidipensahan ko si Senador Robinhood Padilla, nguni’t nakikita ko naman na siya ay nag-aaral at talagang pumupunta sa mga hearings at sumasama sa mga diskusyon para matuto at makibahagi. Siya rin ang talagang gumagamit ng ating sariling wika sa mga deliberasyon, sa kumite man o sa plenaryo,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito, who was presiding over the session, also admitted his own slip-up during the Senate floor exchange with Padilla. It turns out that a proper motion in Filipino was already made, which Ejercito missed.
After the incident, Ejercito realized he needed to brush up on parliamentary terms and procedures in Filipino, which Padilla often uses.
“Yung nag viral na video tungkol sa isa sa mga session namin kamakailan ay nangangahulugan na dapat magsanay na rin ako at ang mga kasama ko sa paggamit ng parliamentary terms na nakasalin sa Filipino,” he said.
“Ipinaalala sa akin ng legislative staff ng Senado na iyon na pala ang tamang motion at hindi ko po ito napansin dahil nasanay ako sa Ingles na parliamentary terms at procedures. Yes, it was a lapse on my part that I didn’t notice it was already the proper motion in Filipino,” he added.
In taking responsibility for his lapse, the senator embraced the learning process.
“Wala naman pong perpekto. Lahat po tayo ay nag-aaral at natututo sa ating mga buhay. Life is a continuous learning process,” he said.
He also gave a shout-out to Padilla for using Filipino in the Senate, and promised to level up his language proficiency too.
“Maraming salamat, Sen. Robin, sa paggamit ng ating sariling wika at sa pagpapaalala sa amin na kailangang magsanay pa tayo rito,” he said.
Viral ‘I move’ video: JV Ejercito, Robin Padilla find themselves in parliamentary procedure pickle
