SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Thursday broke her silence over the chaotic events at the Senate, denouncing how the “People’s House” was desecrated and turned into a virtual shooting range — all to protect Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from facing the law.
Amid attempts to link her and other minority lawmakers to the controversy, she clarified that after session ended, employees and officials, including herself, went home or proceeded to scheduled engagements as part of their normal duties. “Ito po ang katotohanan: tapos na ang session, kaya umuwi na ang mga empleyado. Ako, lumipad papuntang probinsya para sa scheduled na conference. Ang mga colleagues sa Minority, ang aming mga staff, pati ang marami sa aming mga katrabaho ay nag-uwian dahil tapos na ang trabaho,” she stated firmly, urging others not to use the routine departure of hardworking Senate personnel for political gain.
Hontiveros pointed out that the only reason some actors were twisting the narrative and dragging the minority into the issue was to distract from the core fact: that the crisis was orchestrated for one man who refuses to submit to legal processes.
“There is only one reason some bad faith actors are trying very hard to make this controversial event about me and other Minority senators and the times we went home. All this for a man who simply doesn’t want to face the law. That’s it. That’s the whole story,” she said.
She expressed deep disappointment that the hallowed institution — meant for making laws and defending rights — was instead turned into a site of gunfire and tension. “Unfortunately, the Senate, The People’s House, the hallowed space where laws are made and rights are defended, was turned into a shooting range. That is desecration, not just of our walls, but of the trust placed in that institution. What a historic low for our country,” she stressed.
She reminded her colleagues that no lawmaker owns the Senate, as it belongs entirely to the Filipino people. “We, Senators, are mere stewards of the Senate. The Senate belongs to the Filipino people, so no one gets to act like they own the place, much less barricade themselves inside it,” she said.
To prevent further violence or escalation inside or outside the premises, Hontiveros called on Dela Rosa to voluntarily cooperate with authorities and submit himself in light of the arrest warrant issued against him. “Kaya sana, para maiwasan ang panibagong karahasan at tensyon sa loob man o labas ng Senado, mag-submit na at makipagtulungan si Senator Dela Rosa sa mga alagad ng batas ukol sa kanyang warrant,” she appealed.
Finally, the senator demanded a full, transparent, and independent investigation into what really happened — from the gunfire to Dela Rosa’s eventual departure in the early hours of Thursday.
She insisted that there should be no cover‑ups and that the public deserves to know the complete truth. “We need to get to the bottom of this. The Filipino people deserve a full, independent, and unobstructed accounting. Walang takipan,” she declared. Despite the turmoil, Hontiveros assured the nation that the Senate’s work must and will continue. “Anuman ang mangyari, magpapatuloy ang trabaho ng Senado. Let’s get our act together,” she concluded.
