Dominic Tajon, the sales and marketing manager of the APO Production Unit of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), has apologized to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who was said to have been caught drinking alcohol while attending a virtual Senate session on Monday night.
In his letter, Tajon denied that he drank alcohol and said it was a soft drink.
He added that he might have been mistaken for alcohol because the soft drink is in a glass usually filled with alcohol.
Concerning his movement, Tajon explained that he had to switch to the iPad because, in the first part of the session, he only used a cellphone because he was in the car.
“I could not have done such an unethical act knowing that I am participating in a session before the honorable Senate…I would not do such a reprehensible act during a plenary session,” he explained.
Tajon allegedly drank alcohol in the virtual plenary deliberation, so the hearing on the 2022 budget of the Presidential Communications Operations of the Office (PCOO) was postponed.
During the budget deliberations, the sergeant and arms on the monitor noticed APO Printing Office General Manager Dominic Tajon drinking alcohol in the hybrid plenary session.
Dominic Tajon says he was drinking softdrink, not alcohol during virtual Senate hearing
The senators were angry at Tajon’s alleged rudeness, so Minority leader Franklin Drilon and Majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved and suspended the discussion on the PCOO budget.
Before the suspension, it was discussed by Drilon and Sen. Richard Gordon the budget proposal of the PCOO to which the APO is attached agency when the presiding officer Sen. Win Gatchalian and announced the sergeant’s comment and arms that Tajon was not appropriately dressed and was moving around, so they were confused.
Gatchalian further said that Tajon suddenly disappeared from the monitor when he criticized, while Drilon said he saw Dominic Tajon drinking alcohol which was confirmed by Sgt. and Arms.
According to Gatchalian as the presiding officer, the Senate is in a plenary session and must adjust the demeanor and dress of all attendees, even if it is virtual.
According to Drilon, during his tenure as senator, it was the only time that he saw such disrespect in the Senate and someone drinking during the session.
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