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MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Saturday questioned the legality of recent leadership changes in the Senate, arguing that the appointment of key Senate officers and committee chairpersons violated the Constitution and the chamber’s rules because only 12 senators were present to vote.
In a statement, Legarda said the 1987 Constitution requires a majority vote of all Senate members to elect a Senate president and other Senate officers.
Quoting Article VI, Section 16 of the Constitution, Legarda noted that “The Senate shall elect its President by a majority vote of all its Members.”
According to Legarda, the Senate’s 24 elected members mean that at least 13 votes are needed to constitute a majority.
