Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Alan Peter Cayetano have reconciled following a heated argument over Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23, which pertains to the Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) barangays.
The EMBO barangays are at the center of a territorial dispute between Taguig City and Makati City.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled in favor of Taguig, Cayetano’s political stronghold.
Concerned that residents in the contested areas might lose their representation in the upcoming elections, Cayetano introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23, which includes the EMBO barangays in the legislative districts of Taguig and Pateros.
Initially, Senate President Zubiri misunderstood the situation, thinking that the resolution aimed to create a new legislative district.
During the Senate plenary session, Zubiri protested the resolution’s inclusion in the evening’s calendar, arguing that it was not communicated to the senators in advance.
The disagreement between the two senators escalated into a shouting match, which was caught on video and widely circulated.
Senators JV Ejercito and Pia Cayetano intervened to de-escalate the situation. In the end, both Zubiri and Cayetano clarified their positions and reconciled.