JUST IN KAMPO ni SOTTO NAG-WALK OUT sa SENADO! DI KINAYA ANG MAJORITY NI MARCOLETA at CAYETANO

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:05]It doesn't matter if they walk out. I think we we still have the quorum.

[00:00:10]Madame President, >> Madame President, once there is a quorum call, you have to call the role.

[00:00:16]>> When we have rules, we follow the rules.

[00:00:19]>> The particular rule in amending the rules is 136. We're following that. So why are we using unparliamentary language to express or try to provoke the kind of argument we don't want between the majority and minority. You have your opinion. We respect that. We have our opinion. So how do we resolve that?

[00:00:47]>> Are we now curtailing my right to speak?

[00:00:50]Mr. President.

[00:00:51]>> Madame Chair, >> we are not able to ask questions as to why we are amending the rules. We are not able to ask questions as to who they wish who will benefit from the amendment to the rules. Is this rule Mr. President is this rule Mr. President for Senator Bau who is not here? We would like to raise these valid questions Mr. President before we go into a vote.

[00:01:14]Madam Chair. Yes. Madam Chair, we should not be >> How can the presiding officer recognize Senator Pangilan? Uh uh please know that I would never curtail your right to speakal.

[00:01:47]Point of order.

[00:01:49]Ad homonym.

[00:01:54]Section 13.

[00:02:00]Madame President, uh, with the permission of the body, last May 11, 2026, the gent.

[00:02:10]>> Yes, sir. Yes.

[00:02:12]>> Session.

[00:02:14]>> Yes.

[00:02:14]>> Maya, >> I resumed session. Uh, Madame President, last May 11, 2026, the distinguished gentleman from Tarlac, Pampanga, and Risal, Senator Rodante Marcoleta proposed an amendment to the rules of the Senate, particularly rule 14, section 41. Pursuant to rule uh section 136 of our rules of the Senate, a motion to amend the rules must be presented at least one day before its consideration.

[00:02:45]Hence, Madame President, in compliance with our rules, uh the gentleman from uh Tarlac Bampanga and Risal, Senator Marleta, uh is seeking the floor. Uh Madame President, I move that he be recognized to uh explain his uh proposed uh motion.

[00:03:01]Uh Madame President, >> we recognize Senator Rodante Marcoa.

[00:03:08]>> Thank you, Madame President.

[00:03:10]Madame President, I would just like to reiterate for the record the proposal to amend rule 14 section 41 Senate session. The proposal, Madame President, is by way of an additional paragraph, section 41 C after section 41B of rule 14 of the Senate rules, which will state as follows. Section 41 C allow a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in the session through teleconference, video conference or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate information and communication technology. I so moved Madame President We take note of the motion of Senator Rodante Marleta. I recognize Senator Ping.

[00:04:12]>> Yes. Thank you, Madame President. Uh, this is a parliamentary inquiry. What is the status of the motion introduced by the honorable Marcoleta last May 11?

[00:04:27]Has it been referred to the committee rules?

[00:04:31]I am told that it's been referred to the committee on rules, majority leader.

[00:04:34]>> Yes, it has been referred to the committee on rules and uh that's why in this uh particular uh um deliberation the committee on rules is uh giving it back to the floor for plenary action.

[00:04:47]Madame President, >> thank you Mr. President. Uh has the committee on rules been uh been constituted?

[00:04:58]I believe that uh Senator Joel Villanovva is the acting majority leader and would be the best position to answer the question.

[00:05:05]>> In the meantime, I recognize Senate President Cayatano.

[00:05:07]>> Madam Chair, with the permission of Senator Villanovva, so the committee on rules is not reporting out the >> No, my my question, Mr. President, I'm sorry Madame President uh with your permission. My question is, has the committee on rules been constituted?

[00:05:25]>> Yes. So Madame President, the answer there is the same answer to the question of uh Senator Pangalinan and Senator uh former Senate President Sto that in accordance with section 19 uh this same uh they continue to function. Having said that, I was explaining that the motion of Senator Villinva was not for the committee on rules to report out what was referred to them, but to return to the plenary because if you look at section 136 uh of our rules, the rules may be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day before its consideration and a vote of majority senators present shall be required for its approval. So you do not need the endorsement nor the forwarding of the committee of rules for the amendment of the committee on uh for the amendments of the rules. So the only requirement is that uh it is put on the floor uh at least one day before or the proposal is made and that a majority of the senators present uh will will vote for its approval. So I just wanted to clarify that uh just so that we don't have any miscommunication that uh whether or not the rules committee met, who are the members etc. because right now that's irrelevant because we have given back to the plenary the proposal.

[00:06:59]Yeah.

[00:06:59]>> Oh very clear. Thank you Senate.

[00:07:01]>> Madam President, >> Senator Luxon's recommendation.

[00:07:03]>> Does it mean that we are now disregarding the committees of the Senate? So the uh the committee chairman or the chairman of any committee including the rules committee may just report out any uh any motion or any resolution referred to it uh in plenary and then just you know it is within his power to just report it out by himself without any deliberation in the committee without any committee report. Is that the new rule now Mr. President Mad President >> there's there's no new rule. I read the rule.

[00:07:41]>> Senator Luxon is referring to resolutions or communications or anything referred to the committee on uh rules. We're talking about a motion to amend the rules. We had the option of taking it up but since uh everyone asked for one more day it was given to the committee on rules. the committee and rules has an option to take it up but the acting uh uh majority leader or acting chairman of the committee gave it back to plenary and the plenary is more um how do I put it uh >> supreme >> supreme thank you Senator Lakon over the committee so we didn't disregard the committee it is our choice from the start whether we want to give it to the committee or not so when we give it so for example Um, I have a motion now to to extend the session to June 12 instead of June uh 5.

[00:08:43]That could be given to the committee on rules or upon coordination with the house. the plenary can decide it uh directly or we can give it to the committee and rules and after he talks to the house of representatives. He can even report it out or he can easily uh legally morally just say that uh I am tossing it back to the plenary which is what's happening today.

[00:09:07]>> Thank you madam president. uh that is assuming that there there was no referral but in this case and I'd like to to invite the attention of the body to journal number 62 dated May 11, 2026 and if I may uh read the the the uh particular portion of this journal proposed at 6:25 p.m. The session was resumed.

[00:09:36]Proposed amendment to the rules of the Senate. Senator Marcoa proposed an amendment to rule 14 Senate sessions of the rules by inserting a new paragraph C under rule 41 which reads A or C. allow a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in the session through teleconference, video conference or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate information and communications technology.

[00:10:08]Now, here's the portion. Mr. President or Madame President while expressing no objection to the proposal Senate President Cayano a suggested giving the committee on rules time to discuss the matter. Now my question is was there any discussion by the committee on rules?

[00:10:25]Apparently there was none because it's now being reported out by the acting majority leader without consultation with any of the members. And by the way Mr. Madame President, committee on rules, >> I believe that it was mentioned and I will reiterate from my understanding that there was no committee on rules meeting because that that motion is reverted back to plenary madam meaning we are not uh ignoring the fact that of course committees must hold meetings but this particular motion is being referred back to plenary And may we just put on record, it says in rule or section 136, the rules may also be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day and we're complying with that before its consideration and the vote of the majority of the senators present in this session shall be required for its approval. I believe that is what the Senate President had.

[00:11:29]Evidently, Madame President, action was taken and the action was to refer it to the committee on rules since the position of majority floor leader was uh uh vacated. So how can the committee properly function in the absence of a committee?

[00:11:45]Uh >> yeah of of the committee members president Madam Chair had had stated >> let me finish there of a continuing operations of the committee >> but there were vacated madam president members and committee on rules so we cannot invoke continuity because we vacated vacated all committees all positions including the members and may I invite you to uh section 24 of our rules madame President, the committees shall hold meetings to discuss, decide and submit a report on all matters transmitted to them. This was transmitted to the committee on rules. So the committee shall hold including the committee on rules shall hold meetings to discuss, decide and submit a report. There's no report Mr. President or Madame President.

[00:12:36]>> Madame President, >> so we're violating our own rules.

[00:12:40]>> We recognize Senate President.

[00:12:42]>> Mr. President, the chair already made a ruling and it's not appropriate to argue with the chair because as explained to Senator Lakon, the committee did not report it out. He read the journal of May 11, but he did not read the motion of Senator Joel today.

[00:13:03]His motion today was pursuant to rule 136 of the rules, a motion to amend the rules. Meaning if Joel was no longer the majority leader, if I was the majority leader now or even an ordinary member, that motion was carried. No one objected that we take it uh up because Madame Chair, we're bringing it back to plenary. So natural discussion s committee on rules rules discuss committee on rules. We did that on May 11 so that everyone will have an opportunity to study the rule. It's a very simple amendment. So we should go to the discussion of the amendment if anyone is objecting to the amendment.

[00:13:47]But definitely the the right to propose an amendment is a right guaranteed by our rules. Senator Marcoa has an amendment. We should go to discussing the merits or the merits of having that rule.

[00:14:01]You you already ruled that it is proper for the plenary to take it up. So may I request or move that we if there are any objection we discuss their objection.

[00:14:11]>> I'm objecting that that's the effect of my manifestation. Madame President, I'm objecting because I'm invoking section 24 of our rules and as I uh read into the records the journal of May 11, 2026 po committee on rules and there was no discussion. Action was taken actually by uh by the uh by this body.

[00:14:35]>> Then madame chair if there's an objection may I move that we divide the house >> obj on that on that issue not on the issue of whether or not the rule is good that your issue is whether or not it's proper to take it up on the floor. Uh the position of the majority is that there's no rule being violated.

[00:14:59]So we will vote the uh presiding officer has already ruled but the gentleman continues to object. So we have to vote on it.

[00:15:08]>> President, >> we're not voting on the amendment yet.

[00:15:10]We're voting on whether the amendment is proper or not. Yes. Interjection. Uh Madame President.

[00:15:17]>> Yes. Minority Leader Senator Sto.

[00:15:19]>> The we will have to support that uh that um resolution or or thinking of uh Senator Lon which is we did not constitute the committee on rules. So what are we discussing right now? I I I suggest that we we constitute the committee on rules and discuss it there.

[00:15:43]How do I know this?

[00:15:53]>> Point of order. Madame Chairman, where in the rules does it say that an amendment has to pass the committee on rules?

[00:16:02]>> Section 24. Madame President, >> ano sabi sa section 24. The committee shall hold meetings to discuss, decide, and submit a report >> on all matters transmitted to them.

[00:16:13]>> Madame Chairman, that's not the rule.

[00:16:15]The rule is 136.

[00:16:17]>> 136. Can you please for the third time, may we request the Senate President to read into the record?

[00:16:23]>> The rules may be amended by means of a motion, which would be presented at least one day before its consideration, and the vote of the majority of the senators present in the session hall shall be required for its approval. So I respect their uh objection. But how do we determine objections in this Senate?

[00:16:43]We vote. Mr. President, >> so if there is an objection uh they have uh already explained their position. We have explained our position. I move that we divide the house. Madame Chair, >> may may I Mr. President uh we we are several members of the minority here and only Senator uh Lakon has spoken. Why are we railroading this process? Mr. President, I have a number of issues that I'd like to raise regarding this motion. Mr. President, they are citing section 136 assuming for the sake of argument that uh their position is correct. The second paragraph, Mr. President says the rules may also be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day before its consideration.

[00:17:32]We submit, Mr. President, that the earlier motion that was uh entered or was uh uh was referred to the committee on rules. This is a new motion, Mr. President. And therefore, we have to take consideration of the one-day requirement before we can act on it, Mr. President. And that should be if not tomorrow because we don't have any session tomorrow that should be on Monday. Mr. President, >> again let me let me let me reiterate the rules may also be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day before its consideration.

[00:18:09]We submit that the motion that was uh uh mentioned uh last May 11 was referred yes >> to the committee on rules. Yeah, >> this is a new motion, Mr. President, that is being presented on the floor which requires that it be presented one day before it is considered and therefore we have to consider this motion on Monday. Mr. address.

[00:18:33]>> As explained by the acting majority leader, the motion of Senator Marcoa has been brought to the plenary and >> both the majority and the minority had mentioned rule section 136 and it says that the vote of the majority of the senators present in session shall be required for the >> Madam President.

[00:18:57]>> I believe that this rule has been mentioned more than five times. Madame President, >> uh I believe also that the interpretation of the rule uh is different. So I take note of the manifestation of Senator Tang Linan.

[00:19:12]>> Mr. President, if if I if I may just continue, Mr. President, >> all in previous >> uh Senator Lon actually has the floor with the permission of Senator L.

[00:19:22]>> Yeah, Senator Laxon has the floor. May we continue with the uh manifestation of Senator Luxon and then he after him he will yield to Senator um Tang Linan.

[00:19:34]>> Madame President, the invocation of the Senate President uh of rule 136 is premised on the assumption that there was no action taken. But we took action. We referred it to the committee on rules. So section 24 now applies. Madame President, we're going to just drum down our throat something that uh numbers can be made.

[00:19:58]Madam Chair, Mr. President.

[00:20:00]>> Yes, Senate President. Madam >> Chair, first of all, we're just repeating the arguments. I respect his argument, but I disagree with it.

[00:20:09]Secondly, they've used already three words, rammed down their throat, railroaded, binabaso.

[00:20:17]In this democratic institution, we when we disagree, we vote.

[00:20:25]When we have rules, we follow the rules.

[00:20:29]>> The particular rule in amending the rules is 136. We're following that. So why are we using unparliamentary language to express or try to provoke the kind of argument we don't want between the majority and minority. You have your opinion. We respect that. We have our opinion. So how do we resolve that? By voting. Now if you think we violated the rule, then go to court. But we do not think that we violated the rule. It is very clear. So my point of order, Madame Chair, they're out of order by insisting that uh there's another rule except for 136. So I move that we vote on it. Madame President, we divide the house.

[00:21:15]>> Objection.

[00:21:17]>> Objection.

[00:21:18]>> There's an objection then we vote. So may we proceed with the vote madame president? Mr. President, I was earlier uh it was the manifestation of the presiding officer uh the madame chairperson that after senator Lakon I be allowed to speak. Mr. President, are we now curtailing my right to speak? Mr. President, >> Madame Chair, >> we are not able to ask questions as to why we are amending the rules. We are not able to ask questions as to who they wish. Madam >> Chair, may I who will benefit from the amendment to the rules? Is this rule, Mr. President? Is this rule, Mr. President uh for Senator Bau who is not here we would like to raise these valid questions Mr. President before we go into a vote. Madam Chair, >> yes, Madam Chair, >> we should not be >> How can the presiding officer recognize Senator Pangilinan? Uh uh please know that I would never curtail your right to speak just as in 2004. I believe you were seated and I was a vice presidential candidate of FPJ then and my microphone was closed and my right to speak was closed was not given. I remember that time now and the word noted was said to me that will not happen now.

[00:22:39]I will not do that to you and I'm not curtailing your right to speak Senator Pang Linan except that you were speaking at the same time and I was about to recognize you because Senator Lakon had the floor.

[00:22:53]>> Thank you Madame President for >> So I I just wanted to be clear on record because I >> recognize you're being emotional but it will go on Senate record that the presiding officer was curtailing your right to speak. I would never do that and I would not do what I experienced in 2004 in the House of Representatives in the canvasing of the votes then.

[00:23:18]>> Mr. President, >> thank you.

[00:23:19]>> Madame President, uh, with with due respect, Mr. President, I was not referring to the presiding officer.

[00:23:24]>> Yeah, I'm yielding the floor to Senator Pangalina.

[00:23:26]>> Yes. Uh, thank you, Senator Lakon. We recognize Senator Francis Pangalina.

[00:23:30]>> Yes, Mr. President. Uh, and I I allow me to clarify, Mr. Madame President. Uh I was not referring to the presiding officer in terms of the curtailing of my uh of my uh uh right to speak and to raise questions, Mr. President, because it was the Senate President who was uh uh moving to uh uh divide the house, Mr. President, without sufficient debates, Mr. President, this is the first time I'm going to experience this in a long time wherein debates are now being curtailed because there's a motion to divide >> curtailed. We would like to hear your objection to the motion. Thank you, >> Mr. President. Uh there are a lot of questions that have to be raised as to why this this uh uh amendment to the rules is being undertaken at this time. President provides Mr. President that when we amend our rules, we do so by way of resolution.

[00:24:29]We do not have that resolution now. In fact, Mr. President, the total 48 amendments of our rules all went through resolutions. This is the first time after 48 amendments, Mr. President, that we do not have a resolution so that we can >> point of order, Madame Chair, >> and amend the rules properly, Mr. President.

[00:24:50]>> Point of order.

[00:24:52]Point of order takes.

[00:24:54]>> Yes, Senate President. Point of order President.

[00:24:56]>> First of all, I I hope we learned our lesson. Senator Pangilinan already apologized to Senator Padilia. Then now you're shouting at us.

[00:25:06]No. Uh, no. The record will show you. You were shouting at Now, what's my point of order? We are not discussing the merits yet of the amendment. No one's curtailing your rights because floor and the arguments have already been uh laid out and Senator Pangalinan and I were together in 2009 where we had debates here where Senator Enrile did not even allow amendments and then we voted. It depends on every issue. Madame chair, there's no specific rule of the amount of time. I was asking the gentleman about certain issues in one resolution.

[00:26:07]He refused now for further interpolation and said it's time to vote. They were the majority. So, Madame Chair, we're here. We're willing. Senator Marlet is ready to take questions simply whether or not we can take uh whether or not the the proposal to amend the rules is in order specific amendments benefit benefit etc. We support the right of senator pangalin to ask question.

[00:26:42]So uh again may I raise the previous question madame chair the the point of order the parliamentary reason go ahead given the right >> madam presidentina senator and then we hear senator madame president the senate president invoke section 136 paragraph 2 presidentang Section 136 paragraph 2 is a special provision in precisely amending our rules. Section 24. This is a general rule.

[00:27:26]It proposes it presupposes that it will take up all the bills referred to that committee. General function 136 second paragraph is a special provision principle special provision takes precedence over a general provision.

[00:27:53]It will not even take one day because this is not a new motion.

[00:28:00]It was already moved last May May 11. So that is even more than one day. So who is talking about one day here?

[00:28:11]Unless unless we respect section 136.

[00:28:17]It talks about the rules may also be amended.

[00:28:22]So this takes precedence over section 24.

[00:28:29]Madame President.

[00:28:30]>> Um, thank you, Senator Muetta. We recognize Senator >> Salat, Madame President.

[00:28:43]Senator President Madame President section 24 referator Marco Committee on Rules.

[00:29:17]Senator Marleta Committee on Rulescitute Committee on Rules.

[00:29:35]Minority Contingent Committee on Rulesenator Rule Section 136 Madame President, Madame President.

[00:30:15]Madam President, without giving meaning to anything background, May 11 point of section 13.

[00:30:50]Yes, sir. I'm listening to the two senators and as I mentioned, etc. And I see the point of Senator Risa, but I'm also listening to Senator Marua.

[00:31:05]It's a lio love language but I don't think they're meant to be any offense.

[00:31:12]Uh having said that we're only discussing whether we will take up the amendment or not and we have exhausted already all the arguments. Uh this is a simple motion. So I move that we divide the house. May I retitate my motion?

[00:31:28]Then we can go into the merits and they can try to convince us whether or not we agree. No.

[00:31:38]So, so the motion is to to take up the amendment to our rules as proposed by Senator Marleta. The objection is that it is not in order uh because we did not follow our own rules.

[00:31:55]>> Madam Chair, Madame President, >> uh before that, >> Madame President, >> yes, we recognize Senator Orwin Tulfung.

[00:32:02]Madame President, my question is why is the majority in such a hurry to tackle this motion?

[00:32:13]This allowing a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in the session through teleconference. Whereas in rule 14 section 41 under B it says convene and hold a session through teleconference, video conference or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate informations and communications technology system due to force majour madame president or the occurrence of a national emergency.

[00:32:45]I guess madame president this justifiable reason what is that? Does that fall under force majour or does it fall under national emergency? Madame President, >> my question is why are we in so hurry?

[00:33:00]Why are they the majority in a hurry to tackle this motion AND DIVIDE THE HOUSE?

[00:33:07]Madame President, >> I I need I we we need we need answers in the minority. Madam Chair, >> or is it because Madame Chair, they are in a hurry because of news reports that probably two of our colleagues might land in jail this weekend? Is that the reason why? Is that the reason why they have to have this inserted? The section 41C announcement warrant.

[00:33:42]Madame President, that is my question.

[00:33:44]Madam Madame Chair, the gentleman is out of order because his question mama bak can be discussed in the actual uh motion uh can be discussed after the motion whether we should take it up. We take offense that it's just like us saying are you afraid if we have the hearing on the blue ribbon on flood control you you do not make that kind of statements here in the Senate because you assume good faith from everyone that rule May 11.

[00:34:25]So, Madame Chair, I move that we divide the house >> and the voting will be done via Madame President >> Minority Leader.

[00:34:36]>> Um I move to adjourn or a column call.

[00:34:48]That is a higher precedence for the president.

[00:34:52]>> So I only see the minority leader >> 12 >> representing the minority. The others had left >> on madame chair we will not object but for the record they scampered out and left the minority leader instead of discussing the rule. We are not even discussing the rule yet.

[00:35:15]And then uh ganuna allegation and no one from the minority stood up to say that out of order senator Irwin Tulfo. So we will not adj object madam chair. In fact uh we move that we adjourn till 5:00 p.m. President Monday.

[00:35:36]before that motion to adjourn is not debatable.

[00:35:44]We're not debating debating and we will indeed adjourn uh >> parliamentary inquiry.

[00:35:53]>> Yes, Senator M.

[00:36:01]We had a corum. Yes.

[00:36:03]>> Yes, madame. Presidentum, it doesn't matter if they walk out.

[00:36:13]>> I think we we still have the quorum.

[00:36:16]Madame President, >> Madame President, once there is a quorum call, you have to call the role.

[00:36:26]There was a motion to dispense whatever that is not a situation. Madam President willingly walk out Madame President as reiterated by the Senate President and as conveyed by the minority leader, former Senate President, the rule states that the motion to adjurnn takes precedence. I'm not taking sides >> 5 p.m. Monday. We will adjourn session >> until 5 >> until 5:00 p.m.

[00:36:58]>> on Monday, >> June 1st, 2026.

[00:37:02]>> June 2nd. First, June 1. June 1.

[00:37:05]>> The birthday of Senator Lakon. So, we will have cooler heads. Okay.