Palace sees no need for Senate online voting without ‘justifiable’ reason

In the wake of a walkout by 10 minority senators that preceded the Senate’s early adjournment on May 26, Malacañang raised reservations over a proposal to allow senators to participate and vote online during proceedings for “justifiable” reasons.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he sees no sufficient basis for the measure, noting that it appears applicable mainly to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war.

“I disagree with that. I don’t see any good reason to allow it now. It seems that it will only be applicable to Senator Bato [dela Rosa], para makaboto si Senator Bato dahil nagtatago siya,” Marcos said during a press conference in Japan on May 29.

“For someone who is actually a fugitive from justice, na hinahanap ng police, hinahanap ng Interpol, at may arrest warrant galing sa ICC, palagay ko hindi siya dapat bumoto hanggang dumating siya sa Senado,” the president added.

Senator dela Rosa, who is now considered at-large by the ICC, left the upper chamber’s protective custody on May 14, following a shooting incident in the Senate.

Malacañang earlier said there is no force majeure or national emergency that would justify remote participation in the Senate, noting that such arrangements were only allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Before, online voting and Zoom meetings were allowed because we were facing a calamity then […] At present, there is no circumstance that can be considered a force majeure that would justify remote voting,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on May 27.

During the pandemic, hybrid sessions allowed senators to vote, sponsor committee reports, and participate in debates and amendments either in person or online.

‘Heated session and a walkout’

In the Senate session on May 26, Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva introduced a proposal by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to amend Senate rules and allow lawmakers to attend sessions through teleconferencing.

Current Senate rules limit remote sessions to emergency situations that prevent physical attendance, and explicitly state that votes from absent senators are not counted.

Minority senators opposed taking up the proposal, arguing that it should first be reviewed by the Committee on Rules, which has yet to be reconstituted following the Senate leadership change that left all seats vacant on May 11.

Despite objections, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano moved to take up the proposal, prompting opposition senators to question its timing and intent, with Sen. Erwin Tulfo raising concerns that the measure could benefit lawmakers who “might face arrest or detention.”

“Why is the majority in such a hurry to tackle this motion? […] This ‘justifiable reason,’ what is that? Is it because of news reports that some of our colleagues might land in jail this weekend… para makaboto kung sino man ‘yung makukulong?” Tulfo said.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano interjected and pushed back, calling the remarks “out of order” and citing Tulfo’s alleged links to the flood control scandal under Senate investigation.

Ten senators from the minority bloc then walked out of the plenary hall, with Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri calling the proposal a “travesty” of parliamentary procedure.

The walkout left the chamber without a quorum, prompting Minority Leader Sen. Vicente Sotto III, who was the only senator from the bloc remaining, to call for a quorum check.

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda later adjourned the session until the afternoon of June 1, with Cayetano pointing to the need for “cooler heads” to prevail.

‘Not the first time?’

In 2017, former senator and now House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima previously faced a similar issue when she was requested by peers to participate in Senate proceedings while detained on drug charges.

During her detention, several opposition senators filed resolutions allowing her to join Senate sessions and deliberations through teleconferencing, including proposals supported by then minority leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson,

Among the members, Sen. Vicente Sotto III also expressed support for De Lima’s remote participation in the proceedings using available technology.

However, the proposals did not prosper after courts ruled that her detention did not constitute ‘force majeure’ or an emergency under Senate rules governing teleconferencing.

Now, during a May 27 interview, Drilon said the current push to amend Senate rules amounts to what he described as a “railroading” of parliamentary procedure and a departure from established practice.

“This has never happened in the past. This is really abuse of discretion, literally, of the majority. They just want to change something. They just railroaded everything in disregard of parliamentary practices,” Drilon said.

He concluded that if the amendment is approved, the minority may bring the matter before the Supreme Court.