What ceasefire?

MANILA, Philippines — A day after their leaders shook hands for a ceasefire in their word war, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives continued their verbal tussle yesterday over the 1987 Constitution.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Martin Romualdez shook hands in the presence of President Marcos and agreed to halt the word war between the two chambers, during a Feb. 14 bash celebrating the 100th birthday of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile at Malacañang.

However, lawmakers from both camps continued to exchange barbs yesterday, with the tirades stemming from the senators’ questioning of the P26.7-billion allocation for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development. AKAP is being linked to the signature drive for a people’s initiative to amend the Charter.

Zubiri advised House members against holding daily press conferences to attack senators over Charter change.

In an ANC interview yesterday, Zubiri said he was willing to put the animosity behind him as long as the House kept its end of the bargain of no longer attacking senators.

“It’s about time we have a truce with the House of Representatives. But I do not know why they still have their daily press cons. Maybe they want to run for the Senate as well, and good, I’m happy for them,” Zubiri said.

“When you have a press con, you may say things out of script and out of context of what you want to share, and it may hurt feelings,” Zubiri said.

“Like yesterday, a couple of Congress representatives have said something right after I and the Speaker shook hands that have hurt the feelings of my colleagues,” he added.

He cited a Feb. 14 press conference at the House when Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon and 1-Rider Rep. Rodge Gutierrez defended Romualdez from those criticizing him for his alleged role in the people’s initiative.

It is high time for a truce after lawmakers took to the floor to malign Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Zubiri said.

The Senate President was referring to a Feb. 12 House session, when Bongalon brought up