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“VICTORY IN RETREAT” That’s how Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a member of the Senate minority bloc, framed the dramatic walkout of his peers on Tuesday night. —PHOTO FROM SEN. FRANCIS PANGILINAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines — Minority senators on Wednesday intensified their opposition to a controversial proposal allowing remote participation and online voting in Senate plenary sessions, accusing the chamber’s majority bloc of attempting to rewrite long-standing rules amid looming legal and political crises involving several lawmakers.
The dispute erupted after a tense late-night session on Tuesday in which Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano moved to immediately consider a proposal from Sen. Rodante Marcoleta seeking to amend Senate rules to allow senators, “for justifiable reasons,” to attend and vote through teleconference, videoconference or other electronic means.
The move triggered a dramatic walkout by members of the so-called Solid Bloc 11 led by former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and joined by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson and JV Ejercito. Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III stayed behind and moved for adjournment for lack of quorum on the floor.
