Senator Risa Hontiveros has firmly rejected attempts to equate a new Senate majority proposal for hybrid attendance with the failed 2021 bid to allow former Senator Leila de Lima to participate in hearings via videoconferencing.
According to Hontiveros, the chamber’s current rules restrict remote participation strictly to periods of national emergencies or force majeure. She emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the two situations are entirely different, noting that the country is no longer under a pandemic.
Beyond the situational differences, Hontiveros underscored a profound legal distinction between De Lima and lawmakers who are currently avoiding the law, praising the former senator’s adherence to judicial processes.
“Una, COVID pandemic noon at ang Senado, gaya ng ibang institusyon, ay naka videoconferencing… Wala namang pandemic ngayon,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Pangalawa at mas importante, si Senator Leila noon ay sumuko, na-detain at rumespeto sa proseso ng batas. Then and now, there should be respect for legal authority.”
The statement comes after a proposal was floated following the erratic attendance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who briefly returned to the Senate after a six-month absence but vanished shortly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed an arrest warrant against him over drug war killings.
Back in 2021, a resolution backed by Hontiveros and several colleagues to grant the detained De Lima teleconferencing access was rejected by the Senate body.
Warning against the dangers of the new proposal, Hontiveros stated that the upper chamber must never serve as a shield for fugitive lawmakers.
“The Senate should not pave the way for a member to continue to vote, influence policies and receive institutional benefits of office — despite refusing to submit to lawful arrest or judicial authority,” she warned.
“To whom much power is given, much responsibility is expected. Kaming mga senador ay dapat pumasok, humarap sa publiko at magtrabaho.”