Trillanes’ ‘unparliamentary’ behavior may lead to ethics probe

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is facing a possible investigation by the Senate ethics committee after calling his colleagues “lapdogs” and the Senate a rubber stamp of President Duterte.

Senators from the majority bloc, perceived to be allies of Duterte, bristled at Trillanes’ jab on Monday, with some dismissing him as a desperate attention-seeker.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito suggested that the ethics panel investigate Trillanes “since he is becoming damaging to the institution and becoming destructive to the country.”

He described the comments of his colleague from the minority bloc as disrespectful and unparliamentary.

“He should be reminded that as a democratic institution, we in the Senate debate issues instead of hurling insults; we vote instead of calling each other names when we disagree,” Ejercito said.

He said all 23 senators were independent, and when they disagree on a number of issues, they maintain their respect for one another.

“I hope Senator Trillanes would do the same. I hope he will stop destroying this institution simply because he is rabidly against this administration,” Ejercito said.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who chairs the committee, said the panel may investigate Trillanes motu propio but he prefers that a formal complaint be filed.

“I do not know his reasons for saying that. He should be careful in calling us names. I won’t dignify his statements but I’m reminding him that when you point a finger at others, three fingers point at you,” Sotto said.

Sen. Richard Gordon dismissed Trillanes as someone who craves attention.

Trillanes said he would welcome any ethics complaint filed against him.

“But here’s the thing, if Senator Ejercito believes that my statement that the Senate is becoming a lapdog of the Duterte administration is highly offensive yet sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s rape comments to the soldiers, then we really have a problem,” he said.

Trillanes earlier hit his colleagues from the majority, who he said have refused to investigate issues hounding Duterte, which shows the Senate has failed to fulfill its role as the “last bastion of democracy.”