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Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday accepted the apology of House lead prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas for the wacky photos taken by the prosecution panel inside the session hall, but maintained that a warning will still be issued against them.
"May warning pa rin kasi nangyari na 'yun, just to put it on record. But of course, we accept the apology. And I'm sure naiintindihan naman nila 'yan," Gatchalian said in an ambush interview.
(A warning will be issued because the incident already happened, just to put it on record. But, of course, we accept the apology. And I'm sure they will understand that.)
The Senate President on Thursday said he asked the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to look into the circulating photos of certain individuals doing wacky poses while inside the session hall.
He did not drop any names, but such photos of the House prosecution panel recently circulated on social media.
He said the investigation would also apply to those who dance in the hallways of the Senate and those who sleep inside the session hall.
Luistro later issued an apology, explaining that the prosecution panel was simply happy when the photo was taken because they could take a break after months of impeachment hearings.
Gatchalian stood firm that the investigation on the matter would still proceed regardless of the apology.
"Well, we accept their apology. At alam naman nila dahil mga mambabatas rin sila. At doon sa session hall ng Congress, alam ko very strict rin 'yung mga rules nila pagdating sa decorum," he said.
(Well, we accept their apology. I know they are well aware of this, as they are lawmakers themselves. And I know that in the session hall of Congress, the rules regarding decorum are also very strict.)
"Nevertheless, tuloy-tuloy pa rin 'yung investigation kung totoo mang nangyari 'yun o hindi. Dahil may mga sumasayaw dito sa loob. So, bibigyan ako ng official report within the day," he added.
(Nevertheless, the investigation into whether or not this actually took place will continue, since there were people also dancing here in the Senate session hall. I will be provided with an official report within the day.)
Gatchalian also said it was fine to take photos in the session hall, but explained that at the time the prosecution team took the photos, the session hall was set up as a courtroom for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. — VDV, GMA News