MANILA - Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay on Thursday said he is set to file an ethics complaint against Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert "Ace" Barbers for the latter’s “unparliamentary” behavior which almost got them in a fistfight on Wednesday.

The conflict between the two congressmen erupted during a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments after lawmakers debated on whether or not to vote on revising the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly or a constitutional convention.

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Pichay raised a motion for the Lower House to invite the Senate to convene a constitutional assembly, which was objected to by Barbers, who said they should not entertain a "stupid motion."

After a recess was called, Barbers walked all the way to Pichay’s seat and pointed fingers at him, prompting Cebu Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas to put a halt to a possible confrontation between the two.

Speaking to radio DZMM, Pichay claimed that Barbers cursed at him during their altercation.

“Nagmumura siya, ‘P***** i*** mo, nagpe-pretend kang Constitutionalist ka [He was cursing....You’re pretending to be a Constitutionalist],’” he said.

He said Barbers displayed unparliamentary behavior in dismissing his motion as "stupid" and "senseless", instead of properly explaining his opposition.

“Congress is a chamber representing the people of the Philippines. For you to be saying words like 'stupid' and 'nonsense', that is unparliamentary because the Congress is a deliberative body,” Pichay insisted.

“In other words, sa lahat ng issues, kailangan pagdedebatehan para makuha natin ang opinyon ng bawat [we need to debate on all issues to hear the opinion of every] congressman who represents his district. Hindi naman tinig lang ng congressman iyan kundi tinig ng mga tao sa distrito niya [That is not just the voice of the congressman, but the voice of the people in his district].”

Muntik nang magpang-abot sina Cong Robert Barbers at Cong Prospero Pichay sa pagdinig sa Chacha pic.twitter.com/9k1XMsFzL4

— robert mano (@robertmanodzmm) October 12, 2016

Pichay said he may lodge a complaint against Barbers for unbecoming conduct before the ethics committee.

“A lot of congressmen have been urging me, kasi [because] it's also an affront to the institution, na magsampa ako ng reklamo sa [to file a complaint at the] ethics committee. And I think I am going to do that,” he shared.

Barbers has since apologized to the Filipino for his behavior, but insisted that he does not owe Pichay an apology.

"Hindi ako pwedeng mag-sorry sa kanya, dahil wala naman akong dapat ipag-sorry sa kanya. Sa Kongreso at sa taumbayan ako humihingi ng sorry. Alam ko naman kung ano ang nagawa ko," he said.

[I can’t apologize to him because I don’t have anything to be sorry for. It is to the Congress and the public that I apologize. I am aware of what I have done.]

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