Senate under pressure as legal troubles hit key lawmakers | Prof. Julio Teehankee | On Point

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]Heat.

[00:00:18]Heat.

[00:00:36]Heat up here.

[00:01:04]Good evening. I'm Pinky Webb. Tonight, we ask the questions, we tackle the issues, we clarify matters, and we get on point.

[00:01:24]Almost 3 weeks after the ICC unsealed a warrant against Senator Bau Dear Rosa, another senator was ordered arrested, this time by the country's anti-graft court. This is the latest in a series of issues hounding the Senate, raising questions about political implications, accountability, and the upper chambers credibility. How could these developments affect public trust in the institution? Let's get on point with Delasal University political science professor Julio Tihanti. Professor, it's so good to see you again. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much for your time.

[00:01:57]>> Good evening. Uh Pinky, uh thanks for having me.

[00:02:00]>> Very welcome. Senator Jingo Strada post bail today for graph, but he still is facing another complaint of plunder, which in all likelihood is nonbailable.

[00:02:13]um and the likelihood of the issuance of the arrest warrant can happen in the next couple of days. How are you seeing events unfolding from here on?

[00:02:24]Professor, >> you know, it's so sad. Uh Pinky, you know, our political institutions are really taking uh particularly the Senate is taking a a terrible beating for the past few weeks. And you know, uh the question is uh is it all worth it? I mean, who benefits from all of this political drama? I mean, uh, ever since the, uh, the new Senate majority took over the Senate, uh, uh, there has, uh, not not been a dirt of any drama or frustration or any events.

[00:03:05]And you know in recent years we have seen skirmishes uh uh terrible uh clashes and debates in in the Senate.

[00:03:15]But the first time we have seen uh that practically half of the uh current batch of senators and consisting the majority are politically vulnerable to issues and scandals. No. And this is terrible indeed. And uh this is taking a toll on the integrity and the rich history of the hollow ground that is the Senate of the Philippines.

[00:03:40]>> You know, actually uh the president also spoke and part of what he said was that um I watched with horror uh that the Senate has become this. I looked at my other fellow senators ES Ralto and I often look at each other. Were we like that when we were senators? Did we do something like that? We were not like that PBBM about what is happening in the Senate and even I guess it's safe to say that even the public is also always wondering you know what's going to happen next. Yes, indeed. And uh you know uh you cannot take it away from the president because he himself served in the hollow grounds of the Senate and he has served in the Senate uh and before becoming the president of the republic and he is very much concerned at what is happening together with the rest of the Filipino public. No, regardless of your political inclination, regardless of your political color, it is indeed alarming that you know the the Senate that has uh given us the the great statesmen and politicians, political leaders like Senator Rubito Salonga, Lorenzo Tanyada and Jose Wjno has degenerated into uh this uh cessful of political drama and theater. In your opinion, why did we get here? Of course uh in in you know from looking at it from the perspective of my discipline which is political science. This is a manifestation of what we call political decay. in such a way that uh the politics and the polarization that has uh manifested itself uh not only in this administration but uh began in the previous administration has already seeped through the very structure of our political institutions and it has already affected uh the the workings of our governance and and the the very structure of our state. And now more than ever, we should really uh be mindful of how to address this uh falling and failing institutions that we have.

[00:05:56]>> And how do we address that?

[00:05:58]>> Yes, first and foremost uh we should uh be vigilant and mindful of efforts to hold those in power into account. This is indeed a question of accountability and transparency. uh it is something that has long been forgotten uh because of so many issues and so many political noises particularly on social media. It is now incumbent upon the public to hold the people in power whatever political collar they have into uh into account and it is not proper to uh you know transform no our political institutions into u uh into uh places in which uh fugitives can be protected and those who are uh you know facing criminal charges.

[00:06:52]charges are able to escape.

[00:06:54]>> So I take professor that you were against this protective custody of the Senate on Senator Bau de la Rosa.

[00:07:02]>> Of course you know uh you know uh the Senate actually comes from the Latin word uh which means council of wise elderly people. And at the rate things are going ever since the new majority has taken over under Senate President uh Alan Peter Kayan. No, no, the Senate has degenerated into high school level uh student council politics. No, never have I seen in my long years of study in Philippine politics that you know high school style let's divide the house or I close the nomination political but seeing that in the Senate is really appalling and it's not only me who have said this there have been a lot more respectable and experienced uh people like Senate President Frank have already said Senator Dick Gord already said that and so many other ordinary folks have already said this.

[00:08:03]>> Then let me ask you this professor if that's how you see it and that's how you had mentioned others have actually described it. Do you think that members of the majority see it the same way you're seeing it?

[00:08:16]>> Yes. Uh well that's the problem. No. Uh first of all no uh we are we are seeing here uh the members of the new majority doubling down on public opinion. No. And this is a an indication that uh they are no they are actually believing their own propaganda. And this is actually uh in my view a manifestation of the deep polarization that and the narrative the polarizing narrative that uh has been propagated on social media has now creeped into our actual institutional politics. And now the very same echo chamber that uh that has fueled this kind of polarizing narrative has already taken form in the Senate through the new majority.

[00:09:07]>> Let me go back to Senator Jingoya Strada because you had mentioned that you were against obviously you mentioned a while ago the protective custody that they gave Senator Bau Dear Rosa. As mentioned a while ago during the start of the interview, there is a possibility. Well, of course, he is facing a plunder case which in all likelihood is not available. That can happen. The the Senigan Bayan can issue that any time.

[00:09:35]Yes, possib of course not during the weekend but maybe um on Monday. Are you seeing this possibility or is it even in the realm of possibilities that a protective custody could be given or afforded to Senator Jingo Estrada? I asked that because if for example an arrest warrant is issued on Monday and Senator Jingo Estrada goes to work. um will they be able to protect him in the Senate >> based on the entire bruhaha that happened uh three weeks ago and uh based on uh how uh the current majority and the current uh Senate President has treated all of these things. No. Uh it is within the realm of the of possibility that they will still try to protect uh Senator Jingo Estrada who is a member of the current majority. And of course uh this boils down to uh plain political arithmetic. They could not they could not afford they cannot afford to lose another member of the majority because they are already uh standing on a very slim uh margin and they're they're leaning on a very slim margin and any uh change in the political arithmetic would uh result would make it easier for them to be replaced by another uh group of majority uh senators. No. So that's one. Um uh second um it's a question of fairness.

[00:11:00]Pinky no and so many individuals including senators have already mentioned this senator senator coordin Arian, you know, Grand Slam.

[00:11:55]But you know, Senator Jingo Estrada, not verbatim, basically was saying that change of leadership.

[00:12:04]It almost seemed like majority akin to basically saying that you know this is political this could be political persecution. What do you say to that? Well, political persecution prosecution persecution.

[00:12:54]So and politics.

[00:13:05]Politral.

[00:13:23]All right, we need to take a very short break. We'll continue our discussion with political scientist Julio Tihangi when we return. Stay tuned. This is on point.

[00:13:51]From the life beneath its waves to the future it sustains, one ocean connects us all. Let's protect the waters that protect us. World Ocean Day. Billionario News Channel.

[00:14:12]Oh, recently I just lost someone and then yesterday I picked up the guitar and I started strumming. I started writing. Really music is a big part of my healing process.

[00:14:39]Welcome back. Still with us, Delasal University, Political Science, Professor Julio Tihanki. I'm going to go back circle back to what you said a while ago that it's a slim uh majority. And that's what we've seen uh in in the past uh even in the former Senate President with Senator Tito Stoasa 13 with Senator Bau. Now they are 12 because Senator Bau is nowhere to be found. If Senator Jingo is jailed that's going to be 11 versus 11. And this has been discussed and for those who might have missed Senate leadership Senate Presidency. So if they want that, if the minority wants that certainly at least two people have to move from the majority to the minority. My question, professor, is do you think it's acceptable to the public um that for example senators who have cases >> ongoing cases or possible cases actually move from the majority to the minority president? Yes. Okay. So political arithmetic political players.

[00:16:03]So if it's you know it it takes an absolute majority no 13 no to to rest control of the Senate presidency no but it only takes a simple majority no uh which means 11 or plurality no to to take control of the committees no so one scenario that's being uh uh you know raised is it is also possible that only one no 13 minority second arrest warrant Senator Jingo on plunder 11. So it only takes one para to rest control of the committees and uh the legislative uh agenda and it takes another one soap to rest control of the senate of course 23 of the composition of the senate impeachment trial between now and perhaps Monday.

[00:17:23]Pinky if the public will accept no again it's very difficult no given the situation no unless the public who are really appalled by what's happening to the Senate and the direction might even uh consider it palatable to accept some of these senators but of course it's going to be a hard cell now among all the majority there are one or two who might not be burdened by this possibility. In fact, I see even four who might possibly consider uh uh >> can you name them professor one or two who might not be burdened with uh a case?

[00:18:06]>> Okay. Uh the first one really is uh Senator Laurenard because of uh you know uh Senator Migs. No. uh she she is a you know the the current minority is actually the natural political ally of Senator Loreno but of course there are certain uh political complications no somehow related to Batanga's politics and the the son no so uh but uh in terms of uh party affiliation no uh she and uh Tito are both from the nationalist people's coalition although party affiliations mean nothing here but at least They have been together for decades under the same party name including the second one which is >> Chis is Scuderero the former Senate President and his uh conspicuous absence is uh was noted by everyone. No. So here is somebody who originally was identified with Malakanyang. In fact, the the reason why he was able to rest the Senate presidency from Mitsubiri was because of his perceived closeness with the palace, particularly the first couple. And then all of a sudden after the midterms, no, he suddenly uh switched side because he saw the the shifting political winds after the defeat of the uh the administration uh coalition during the midterm elections.

[00:19:32]No. So he saw it as an opportunity to rest control uh from uh Mix Soiri. So given his uh very uh real uh re pragmatic and practical and even opportunistic uh play of politics uh he is also right for uh moving and in fact he was already uh you know under you know they were already undergoing negotiation of him shifting. In fact, he promised to bring three senators along with him, but he demanded to to be named Senate President. So, that was the deal breaker. No. Uh the other two, I think, who might still be uh persuaded to join would be the the Villar siblings. No.

[00:20:14]And of course, the key here is if you talk to the father.

[00:20:18]>> Okay. So, how does that work? uh professor for example the villar siblings knowing that there is a case also um against the villaris >> if you know what what is the impression of a possible move or shift from the majority to the minority >> in in relation to the case uh they are facing >> the family is facing >> that's the that's the pitfall of mixing business and politics So and but that hasn't always been the hallmark of the villyards. No. So uh you know they they are both in business and in politics. No but uh the difference is that uh whatever uh case they are uh facing no are not inherently political. No I mean it's a it's a question about the valuation of the stocks and and whatever. No >> alleged market manipulation. alleged market manip which is also you know a a a a violation right a legal violation but nonetheless uh that was also the the logic no the calculus behind them uh staying with the majority until they decided to uh to shift to to Alan Peter Kayano because from the very beginning um you know the the billyards are known to be very close Duterte supporters in fact it's the former senator Manny Villar who first contributed to the presidential campaign of uh Rodrigo Duterte.

[00:21:50]>> What are your thoughts on this motion to allow participation and voting remotely?

[00:21:55]>> No way. I mean again face to face or hybrid.

[00:22:08]exam. So, Senator Senator.

[00:22:40]But the fact of the matter But yeah, but the fact of the matter is they can as long as they have the numbers.

[00:22:47]>> Yes.

[00:22:52]Professor, let me end the interview with a question I asked Senator Winfo yesterday.

[00:23:03]>> How can the dignity of the Senate be restored?

[00:23:07]>> Okay. No. So, first no, uh they should really get their act together. uh they should uh decide really on a leader who will not necessarily change the image the sullen image of the uh Senate overnight but at least start the process of healing. No, it all depends really on the style of political leadership of the presiding officer. We have seen in the past Migiri was consensual. Uh, Titoen was consensual even up to a certain extent uh uh you know uh Chie was consensual but we have seen under the current Senate President and that has been his mark in politics in a volatile political situation like this.

[00:24:02]Delisal University political science professor Julio Tihanki. Sir, pleasure to have you. Thank you so much for your time.

[00:24:09]>> Thank you, Pinky.

[00:24:11]>> That's on point. Join us again on Monday, 7:30 p.m. here on BNC, the Billionario News Channel. I'm Pinky Webb. Thank you for watching.