SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan declared on May 13, 2026, that he will not be intimidated nor back down after Senator Robin Padilla threatened to file an ethics complaint against him over an incident where he reportedly raised his voice during plenary debates.
Padilla, who once described today’s generation as “weak,” claimed Pangilinan shouted at him while he was interjecting, at a time when Pangilinan insisted he still held the floor and had the right to speak. But Pangilinan brushed off the threat, saying that raised voices during heated discussions are common, natural, and part of robust parliamentary exchange — and definitely not a valid ground for any ethics case.
In a sharp response, Pangilinan called Padilla’s complaint baseless and unnecessary. “Huwag maging balat sibuyas. Walang legal na basehan at walang kwenta ang ethics case complaint na yan. Hintayin na lang natin yung reklamo nya,” he said. He warned that if Padilla pushes through with the filing, he will immediately file a countercomplaint citing Padilla’s own violations of parliamentary rules, lack of proper decorum, and his threatening behavior inside the Senate chamber.
Pangilinan emphasized that what Padilla is doing is nothing more than bullying and intimidation tactics — moves that will never work on him. “Hindi uubra ang pambubully at pa siga siga sa akin. Mas may basehang kasuhan yang pasiga‑siga, pambabastos at ang kawalan ng proper decorum sa kapwa senador sa Senado. Lahat on record,” he stressed.
Pangilinan clarified that he is not one to seek or start fights, but he will not hesitate to defend himself and stand his ground against what he sees as unfounded harassment. “Ayaw ko ng away. Hindi ako palaaway pero hindi ko aatrasan ang sinuman kung ang gusto ay ganitong walang kwentang kasuhan,” he stated firmly.
Their heated exchange happened while Pangilinan was pushing for the plenary to refer to the appropriate committee the sensitive issues surrounding the attempted arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and the related legal and security developments. The confrontation highlights the deepening divides within the Senate, as debates over major political and legal issues now spill over into personal clashes and procedural disputes.
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