No more walkouts? Miriam, Fariñas reconcile in CA hearing

MANILA, Philippines - After their heated arguments last week, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas reconciled during the resumption of the Commission on Appointments (CA) foreign affairs committee hearing on Wednesday.

A photo posted on the senator's Twitter account showed Fariñas giving flowers to a smiling Santiago.

"I humbly believe that there's no need for apology on either side. Instead, as usual, I hold out the hand of friendship," Santiago said in her post.

I humbly believe that there's no need for apology on either side.Instead, as usual,I hold out the hand of friendship. pic.twitter.com/aPLlc3YZEl

— Miriam Santiago (@senmiriam) September 17, 2014

It was the same statement made by Santiago in her letter to Fariñas the day after the CA foreign affairs committee hearing on the appointment of ambassadors and foreign service officers was suspended.

Santiago, chair of the said CA panel, was hearing the nomination of one official when Fariñas pointed out that the proceedings cannot continue due to lack of quorum.

Arguing that quorum may consist even with only the presence of the committee chair, Santiago walked out of the hearing after feeling that her authority as committee chair was questioned.

She offered words of reconciliation to Fariñas in her letter, which also proposed how the CA hearing could proceed.

RELATED: Miriam returns to Senate but walks out of CA hearing