MANILA, Philippines — Hostilities between Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Robinhood Padilla escalated for a second consecutive day, moving from the plenary floor to a physical “commotion” at the senators’ lounge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, the tension required intervention from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).
The dispute stems from a heated argument on Tuesday night regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
1. The Plenary Shouting Match (Tuesday, May 12)
The friction began during discussions on the NBI’s attempt to arrest Dela Rosa.
- The Spark: Pangilinan raised a point of order to refer the matter to the Committee on Rules. Padilla interrupted, insisting on immediate floor discussion.
- The “Shouting”: Pangilinan sharply asserted, “For the record, Mr. President, I still have the floor!” in a raised voice.
- The Offense: Padilla took deep offense, later stating he would file an ethics complaint because a senator should not shout at a colleague. During a session break, Pangilinan offered a handshake, which Padilla declined.
2. The Lounge Commotion (Wednesday, May 13)
The tension boiled over outside the session hall on Wednesday afternoon.
- The Incident: OSAA Acting Chief Mao Aplasca confirmed the two “figured in a commotion” on the way to the lounge.
- Clarification: While social media rumors (notably from lawyer Jimmy Bondoc) suggested a suntukan (fistfight), OSAA clarified it was a verbal confrontation (“nagkasagutan lang”) that was “quickly settled.”
As of May 14, neither senator has backed down from their respective positions:
| Senator | Current Position / Statement |
| Robin Padilla | Demands a formal apology in the plenary. “I don’t want my children and grandchildren to read that a Muslim senator was shouted at here.” |
| Kiko Pangilinan | Refuses to apologize. Called Padilla “balat sibuyas” (onion-skinned) and challenged him to file the ethics case. “Bullying and acting like a tough guy won’t work on me.” |
- Padilla’s Side: Plans to file a complaint based on “unparliamentary shouting” and lack of decorum.
- Pangilinan’s Side: Threatens a counter-complaint for threats and intimidation, alleging Padilla displayed “swaggering behavior” and bullied him during a session recess on Monday.
The clash highlights the deep division within the Senate as it grapples with two major crises:
- The ICC Warrant: The chamber is split on whether to continue providing sanctuary to Senator Dela Rosa.
- Impeachment: Tensions are high as the Senate prepares to transform into an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte.
“In all my years in the Senate… this may be the first time an ethics case like this will be filed [over raised voices]. If that’s an ethics violation, many senators would have already been charged.” — Senator Francis Pangilinan