Photo courtesy of Ping Lacson/Facebook.
Senator Panfilo Lacson pushed back against efforts to fast track changes to Senate rules, saying debate is fair game but ignoring procedure to force approval is not.
The remark came as Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano defended moves to amend chamber rules, including a proposal allowing senators to join sessions and vote remotely.
Lacson said discussions on any motion or resolution are part of the legislative process, but stressed that cutting debates short to push a measure forward crosses the line.
Cayetano, however, denied any railroading, insisting the plenary has the power to amend rules through a simple majority vote and is not bound by committee actions.
At the center of the clash is a proposal to allow senators to participate via online platforms for “justifiable reasons,” even outside emergency situations.
Current rules already allow remote sessions during force majeure or a declared national emergency, but critics noted the new proposal leaves room for broad interpretation.
Tensions spilled onto the Senate floor earlier in the week, with minority senators staging a walkout after questioning how the discussions were being handled.
Concerns were also raised that the rule change could benefit lawmakers facing legal trouble, though some senators argued that detained colleagues can still attend sessions if courts grant permission.