Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has joined the opposition in challenging the majority bloc’s attempt to vote on a proposal for online session participation, arguing that the measure cannot be legally processed because the Senate committee on rules currently has no valid members following a recent leadership shakeup.
During Tuesday night’s contentious plenary debate, Lacson questioned the handling of Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s proposed amendment. He pointed out that the chamber’s committee system was effectively bypassed because all committee positions—including that of the Majority Leader, who concurrently chairs the rules panel—were declared vacant on May 11.
Lacson cited Section 24 of the Rules of the Senate, which mandates that committees must hold meetings to discuss, decide, and submit reports on all transmitted matters, with reports requiring majority approval from panel members.
“Does it mean that we are now disregarding the committees (and committee system) of the Senate?” Lacson asked. “How can the committee on rules properly function in the absence of the committee members? They were vacated. Walang (There is no) (chairman at) members ang committee on rules. We cannot invoke continuity.”
The lawmaker also disputed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s reliance on Section 136, a provision allowing rules to be amended via a motion presented one day in advance and approved by a majority of present senators. Lacson countered that this shortcut only applies if a matter has not yet been referred to a committee.
Senate records from May 11 indicate that Marcoleta’s proposal—which seeks to amend Rule 14 to allow senators to attend sessions via video conference or electronic means “for justifiable reasons”—had already been formally referred to the rules panel.
Cayetano himself had previously acknowledged the referral and suggested giving the committee time to review it.
“Now my question is, was there any discussion by the committee on rules? Apparently there was none. Because it’s now being reported out by the acting Majority Leader without consultation with any of the members,” Lacson noted. “You cannot just ram it down our throat.”
The high-tension session was abruptly adjourned by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda after minority bloc members staged a mass walkout in protest of the majority’s insistence on pushing the vote through.
The controversial rules amendment was initially introduced on the same day Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa returned to the Senate, following a six-month absence prompted by reports of an impending arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.