Rowegie Abanto

Some members of the Senate minority bloc walk out of the plenary session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Photo from the Office of Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17799372026801779937201783.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Some members of the Senate minority bloc walk out of the plenary session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. <em>Photo from the Office of Sen. Kiko Pangilinan</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Senate minority bloc next week will again challenge the proposed amendment to the Senate Rules that effectively allows a senator with &quot;justifiable&quot; reasons to participate and vote through teleconferencing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.</p><p>The majority group on Tuesday failed to put to a vote Sen. Rodante Marcoleta&#x27;s proposed amendment to the Senate Rules, which allows senators to join sessions even they are not physically present in the chamber.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/hontiveros-senate-walkout-1148">&#x27;Masamang Senateflix&#x27;: Hontiveros questions alleged rush to amend Senate Rules</a></div><p>The matter is expected to be discussed again Monday next week. The minority group will &quot;keep debating&quot; the proposal, Lacson said, adding that they could introduce amendments to the suggestion &quot;if it comes to that.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gULpcyCvTJs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>The minority senators argue that any amendment to the Senate Rules should be first referred to the Committee on Rules, which would then come up with a report for plenary discussion. </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/-another-battle-minority-to-stand-ground-vs-online-voting-erwin-tulfo-1001">‘Another battle’: Minority to ‘stand ground’ vs online voting — Erwin Tulfo</a></div><p>If the majority bloc opts to skip this step and insist on dividing the house on Monday, the minority will be defeated due to &quot;tyranny of numbers,&quot; Lacson said, noting that they may challenge the procedures before the Supreme Court.</p><p>&quot;Basta&#x27;t may grave abuse of discretion puwedeng pumasok ang Supreme Court,&quot; he said.</p><p>(The Supreme Court can step in when there&#x27;s a grave abuse of discretion)</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R89lXFIaP_4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/drilon-suggests-supreme-court-intervention-on-proposed-senate-rules-change-1332">Drilon suggests Supreme Court intervention on proposed Senate Rules change</a></div><p>But the senator acknowledged that the high court can choose not to intervene in the case and note that it does not have a say with the Senate&#x27;s internal rules.</p><p>Members of the minority bloc on Tuesday walked out of the Senate plenary in protest of Marcoleta&#x27;s proposal.</p><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday they left the Senate plenary session because the majority bloc was insisting on voting on Marcoleta&#x27;s amendment to the Senate Rules when &quot;substantive problems&quot; to his proposal were yet to be discussed.</p><p>The walkout of minority senators was successful with the absence of Sens. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero and Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa, who are both allied with the majority group and left their bloc with only 11 members on Tuesday. </p><p>Senate Minority Leader Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III remained in the plenary to note the lack of a quorum after his allies&#x27; exit and moved to adjourn the session. At least 13 senators are needed for a quorum.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong><strong>:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EUh8vPQ6kyc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1bIcbZ0fBgo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Senate minority bloc next week will again challenge the proposed amendment to the Senate Rules that effectively allows a senator with "justifiable" reasons to participate and vote through teleconferencing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.</p>

The Senate minority bloc next week will again challenge the proposed amendment to the Senate Rules that effectively allows a senator with "justifiable" reasons to participate and vote through teleconferencing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson says Senate minority to 'keep debating' online voting push, may turn to Supreme Court

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Lacson says Senate minority to 'keep debating' online voting push, may turn to Supreme Court

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2026 11:41 AM PHT

|

Updated May 28, 2026 12:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Ping Lacson

Senate

Online Voting

Ronald Dela Rosa

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