What the Hell is Going On at the Senate?
"Politically, it suggests that the majority is already thinking defensively and trying to insulate itself from potential instability within its ranks," experts weigh in on the walkout.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on May 27, 2026
The Philippine Senate over the past month has seemingly been imploding thanks to the theatrics cranked up to 11, an ouster, a potentially staged shooting, and now a new rule that allows senators to vote remotely. You know, if a legislator is also detained or potentially evading arrest.
Deep into the night of Tuesday's (May 26) plenary session, ten senators from the so-called "Solid Bloc 11" walked out over the proposed change in the chamber's rules that would let senators attend sessions remotely, through video conference, for "justifiable reason."
This topic would sound like a fairly mundane tweak to the rules, especially in a post-pandemic context on paper any other time. The thing is, three senators are facing varying legal woes of different degrees: one is wanted by the International Criminal Court, and two others are facing plunder charges from the Ombudsman.
A Senate floor turned into a shouting match as Senator Kiko Pangilinan pressed the majority why they were hastily trying to push for the motion, demanding confirmation if the rule was specifically for Senator-at-large Bato Dela Rosa.
"Minamadali ba ang rule change na ito dahil gusto nilang maka boto si Senator Bato (Are we rushing this rule change because they want to allow Senator Bato to vote)?" he said.
Senator Ping Lacson also called out his colleagues for "ramming down their throats something numbers can dictate." Senator Erwin Tulfo also demanded to know who was set to benefit from the contentious proposal, to which Senator Rodante Marcoleta (who penned the motion) questioned their legal backgrounds.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, whose term has already been mired in controversy and accusations of shielding allies of the Duterte clan, said that the minority "scampered out" when they walked out and proceeded to adjourn the session to June 1.
The Rule Change Deconstructed
Marcoleta introduced the motion on May 11 as he proposed to insert a new section 410C into the Senate rules, which would allow any senator "for justifiable reasons" to participate in plenary sessions via teleconference, videoconference, or other electronic means. Meaning, these remotely cast votes would count in major legislative decisions, including those in an impeachment trial.
In case you've been living under a rock, the Senate is the last frontier for embattled Sara Duterte-Carpio's impeachment case, as the upper chamber is currently sitting as an impeachment court. court.
Under the Senate's existing rules, remote participation is only allowed when the Senate itself is convened entirely via teleconference due to a national emergency such as typhoons or a pandemic. This rule change would drop the bar to the floor and allow any of these lawmakers facing varying legal troubles to influence and decide on major proceedings of national importance.
Think back to 2017 when Congresswoman and then-detained Senator Leila de Lima requested to participate in Senate proceedings via video conference. The Philippine Supreme Court had denied it as magistrates ruled that a detained prisoner could not "exercise legislative functions remotely," a precedent that is more relevant than ever to the discourse surrounding the fiasco at the Senate right now.
Right now, the Senate doesn't have a committee formed to deliberate on the proposal after Cayetano's installation as Senate president on May 11, which cleared every committee leadership position and assignment for the senators.
Acting Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva reintroduced the motion on the floor on May 26 for deliberation, which raised eyebrows among the minority since there really isn't a committee on rules yet.
"If you look at Section 136 of our rules, you do not need the endorsement nor the forwarding of the Committee on Rules for the amendment of the rules," Cayetano argued.
"We are not discussing the merits yet of the amendment. No one's curtailing your rights because wala pa tayo doon eh. Ang pinagbobotohan natin ngayon ay kung pwede i-take up sa floor o hindi."
The sitting Senate president also rejected accusations of "railroading" and "strong-arming" as he urged other senators to assume good faith from their colleagues.
"You do not make that kind of statement here in the Senate because you assume good faith from everyone," said Cayetano, who previously served as detained former President Rodrigo Duterte's top envoy.
The Majority Playing Defense?
Last week, the Supreme Court denied Dela Rosa's plea to block the ICC's arrest warrant against him over his involvement in the previous administration's deadly anti-illegal drug campaign.
The former national police chief had anticipated an arrest by local law enforcers after he took refuge in the Senate after he invoked the rules of the chamber that bar authorities from seizing him on the premises.
He has since been branded as a "fugitive from justice" after the dramatic Senate standoff that raised alarm over the safety of the many journalists and Senate staff covering proceedings.
The lawmaker has argued that he was only hiding from the public since his liberty was at risk due to the ICC's warrant, which he consistently condemns for being illegal due to Manila cancelling its membership in the tribunal in 2019.
The elder Duterte, who is 80 years old, is standing on trial for his deadly drug war, which was a key pillar of his maverick persona during his presidency. The ICC last month ruled that it has full authority over the crimes committed during the tough-talking leader's time in power.
"This appears to be an attempt by the majority bloc to preserve control over Senate procedures despite the possibility that some of its members may become unable to physically participate because of ongoing legal issues," Arjan Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, told Esquire Philippines in a Facebook Messenger chat.
"Politically, it suggests that the majority is already thinking defensively and trying to insulate itself from potential instability within its ranks."
Other than Dela Rosa, Senators Estrada and Villanueva are facing malversation cases linked to the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. The bombshell was dropped by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla the same day Villanueva brought the remote voting proposal back on the Senate floor.
According to law lecturer and constitutionalist Michael Ll. Yusingco, the Senate can change their rules anytime, granted the legislators actually follow procedures.
"It can't be allowed for someone who is hiding from the law and trying to evade arrest," he said. "Teleconferencing can't be allowed just to accommodate lawmakers in prison or who are deemed fugitives from justice."
Esquire PH's resident music scribe, wristwatch disciple, and essayist fluent in niche internet subcultures and Philippine politics.
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