One House of Congress cannot proceed against a member of another house without violating the principles of co-equality and inter-chamber courtesy. The correct procedure is to bring the matter officially before the entire Senate and not directly to one Senator. As aptly noted by our Senate President, “If they want to respect it [inter-parliamentary courtesy], well and good. If not, ‘wag sila magtampo if it’s the other way around.”

Also, as pointed out by people who saw the hearing, the conduct of some members of the House Committee on Justice was unparliamentary. The disrespectful and condescending line of questioning– which at one point seemed to justify an act of domestic violence– has no place in the halls of Congress.