Cayetano, Trillanes clash over witness

MANILA, Philippines - Tempers flared during the third hearing of the Senate yesterday into the alleged extrajudicial and summary killings of suspected drug pushers as the critics of President Duterte and one of his allies lashed out at each other on live television.

While Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was questioning Edgar Matobato, the surprise witness presented by Sen. Leila de Lima, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV moved to declare him out of order for taking up too much of the committee’s time.

Cayetano, a supporter of the President, was trying to make Matobato disclose details of where he was before appearing before the committee and who were his handlers.

De Lima repeatedly advised Cayetano that these were issues that Matobato was not comfortable answering because it would compromise the safety of the people who assisted him and that many of the questions dealt with confidential matters as part of the Witness Protection Program.

Cayetano insisted he had every right to ask those questions and continued to pursue his grilling of Matobato.

At this point, Trillanes sat between De Lima and Cayetano and asked if a non-member of the committee was normally allowed to go on with what he called “unli-questioning” of the witness.

De Lima said each member of the committee is allowed 10 minutes to question.

“We have given him more than an hour of leeway, for a non-member (of the committee), that’s a luxury. As a member, can I assert my right as a member, otherwise I might move to declare Senator Cayetano out of order for consuming the time of the committee of which he is not a member,” Trillanes said.

The two senators continued arguing, talking at the same time, and at one point Trillanes even tried to switch off Cayetano’s microphone.

With no signs of either senator backing down, De Lima suspended the hearing and tried to intervene.

‘You’re evil’

Cayetano and Trillanes continued their heated exchange during the break and even with their microphones turned off, what they said were heard clearly by the people around them.

“I will not allow you take advantage of us here. I will see to that,” Trillanes told Cayetano.

“Why? I am also a senator elected by the people. Why would you prevent me from speaking out?” Cayetano said.

“What was it you were wishing for? Did you get it?” Trillanes went on.

“What are you talking about? I am talking about this hearing,” Cayetano said.

Trillanes: “You’re protecting evil.”

Cayetano: “I’m not protecting evil.”

Trillanes: “No, you’re into evil.”

Cayetano: “You’re evil.”

De Lima then stood between the two and told them to behave.

When the hearing resumed, Cayetano proceeded to disclose his exchange with Trillanes.

“I don’t want to be intimidated because my seatmate here is intimidating me… I’m trying to get to the bottom of this then he continued to trash me,” Cayetano said.

He then moved to a different seat away from Trillanes.

Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Trillanes said he had no intention of intimidating Cayetano.

“Why should I intimidate him, we are equal here,” Trillanes said.

Asked what he said to Cayetano, Trillanes said that it was all just “sweet nothings.”