Senate minority walks out over heated debate on electronic voting

Members of the Senate minority bloc staged a walkout following the majority bloc's insistence on discussing amendments to the rules on electronic voting.

On Tuesday, May 26, the discussion on the proposal by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to amend Rule 14, Section 41 of the Senate Rules was revived.

"Section 41-C: Allow a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in a session through teleconference, video conference or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate information and communication technology," he read.

The Senate minority argued that because the Committee on Rules has not yet convened nor acted on the motion, the matter is not yet ready for a plenary decision.

However, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano countered that the proposal was simple enough for immediate plenary discussion and was legal under Rule 51, which allows the Senate rules to be amended by a simple majority vote of the members present.

Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned why the majority was "in such a hurry to tackle this motion."

“Why is the majority in such a hurry to tackle this motion and divide the house? We need answers in the minority. Or is it because they’re in a hurry because of news reports that probably two of our colleagues might land in jail this weekend? Is that the reason why?” Tulfo said, alluding to reports that a plunder case against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva will be filed in the Sandiganbayan soon.

Cayetano countered that they "take offense" at motives being questioned.

"You do not make those kinds of statements here in the Senate because you assume good faith from everyone. That rule hindi minadali; May 11 pa ho 'yon," he claimed.

While Cayetano was speaking, Tulfo walked out of the chamber, followed by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros, among others.

Talking to the media on his way out of the session hall, Tulfo said: "Binobola lang tayo eh. Pinagpipilitan nila, [sa] isip-isip siguro nila dahil lumabas na sa media ay may ilalabas nang warrant of arrest. Para maka boto yung mga makukulong, kung sino man yun, para maka boto sila kung naka kulong na sila."

In a joint statement, the minority bloc said they "strongly condemn" the move to "rush a major change in the Senate Rules."

"We walked out because what happened on the floor looked less like orderly deliberation. The proposed rule change affects how senators may attend sessions, participate in proceedings and exercise their mandate through remote means, and such a measure should be opened to healthy public debate instead of being rushed by the tyranny of the majority," the senators said.

The minority believes that the proposal requires more time for open, proper debate.

"The timing raises a question that the public deserves to hear debated openly. Kaya pinili naming tumayo at iwan ang majority sa plenary. Kaya kami nagdesisyon to question the quorum and call for adjournment," they continued. "If the proposal is truly defensible, then let it pass through the proper route. We owe it to the people who voted for us to do our mandate. This is why we want more time to discuss this further."

Following these events, the session was suspended and adjourned until Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m.

Marcoleta on May 11 moved to insert a new provision, Section 41-C, which would expand remote participation in Senate proceedings. It was suggested at that time that the Committee on Rules would be given time to discuss the matter.