By GMA News Published May 28, 2026 9:00am + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday rejected Senator Robin Padilla’s argument that the Middle East and Taiwan-China tensions, as well as El Niño could be considered force majeure to justify online participation in Senate sessions.“Ano ba naman ‘yan? I mean, with all due respect, hindi po ‘yan mga force majeure,” Hontiveros said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.(What was that? I mean, with all due respect, it’s not force majeure.)She said the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on oil prices should instead push lawmakers to physically report to work and focus on measures that would help Filipinos affected by rising costs.Hontiveros also pointed out that the China-Taiwan tension as well as global warming and climate change have long been monitored without requiring lawmakers to shift to online participation.In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Padilla said, “War/gera/digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan na nagreresulta na ng terorismo sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo, ang napipintong pagkadawit ng Pilipinas sa China-Taiwan conflict, hindi po ba ito force majeure?” (War in the Middle East that is already resulting in terrorism in various parts of the world, the imminent involvement of the Philippines in the China-Taiwan conflict, isn't this force majeure?)According to Hontiveros, existing Senate rules permit online voting only in cases of national emergency or force majeure, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.Senator Rodante Marcoleta previously proposed an amendment that would allow senators to attend sessions and vote through teleconferencing, which led to a debate among the lawmakers on Tuesday.Hontiveros earlier said that there was no force majeure to justify such a proposal.The minority bloc walked out of the session, opposing the proposed amendment and calling out that the Senate rules requiring prior notice before deliberating on suggested rule amendments were violated.Hontiveros said the minority bloc is prepared for another debate on the matter on Monday. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News