MANILA, Philippines — A discussion on a Senate resolution seeking to expand the legislative districts ofTaguig and Pateros turned into a heated verbal exchange that nearly erupted into a fistfight between Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday night. The resolution in question will include 10 barangay (villages) from Embo in Makati City to Taguig and Pateros and would mean an increase in councilors in each area to ensure fair representation. Cayetano, who authored the measure, and Zubiri engaged in a debate with Zubiri questioning why the measure was being discussed when it wasn't on the daily agenda. Zubiri addressed a concurrent Senate resolution, emphasizing the importance of following due process. He also expressed surprise at the sudden appearance of resolutions related to specific barangay(s) and stressed their commitment to transparency in legislative matters. Zubiri apologized for raising his voice during the discussion. For his part, Cayetano said why he no longer wanted to defer the adoption of the measure, stating, "I don't want to take the risk. You saw the rain today. What if there's a storm tomorrow, and we adjourn? So, can no one from Embo run for congressman? No one can vote? This is a five-page resolution, elementary reading." Cayetano also apologized to Zubiri for raising his voice. During the session, after further discussions, the Senate approved Cayetano's proposal. In a separate message to reporters on Tuesday evening, he agreed "with the explanation that it's not the creation of a new district and it's only the sense of Congress." According to Cayetano, the 10 Enlisted Men's Barrio (EMBO) barangay(s) now part of the City of Taguig should be allowed to vote for their congressional representative in the upcoming 2025 local elections. To address this, he introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 on Monday, calling for the EMBO residents to exercise their voting rights and gain representation in Congress as part of a legislative district. "All residents of Taguig have the right to equal representation, and those qualified have the fundamental right to exercise their right to suffrage," Cayetano said in the concurrent resolution dated Sept. 23, 2024.
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