SAGIP Partylist Representative Paolo Henry Marcoleta, son of Senator Rodante Marcoletta, has defended the use of virtual voting and electronic participation in legislative proceedings, saying that such practices have long been implemented in the House of Representatives and should also be considered by the Senate.

In a video posted on social media, Marcoleta emphasized that lawmakers can already vote and participate remotely through various digital platforms when they are unable to physically attend sessions.

“Ang virtual voting ay matagal na pong isinasagawa sa House of Representatives… ang mga kongresista ay maaring bumoto through electronic platforms kung wala sila sa plenaryo,” Marcoleta said.

He explained that voting may be conducted through SMS, Viber chats, official group messages, or by directly informing the Secretary General, who records the official vote.

Marcoleta also noted that virtual participation extends to committee hearings, where legislators may join via Zoom or other online links to take part in deliberations.

“Pwede rin po kaming tumawag sa Secretary General para itala ang aming boto… kahit sa committee deliberations, pwede ka nang sumali sa diskusyon sa Zoom,” he added.

He further argued that the system is not new and has already been embedded in House rules, even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcoletta questioned why similar arrangements are being resisted in the Senate, stressing that both chambers perform the same lawmaking function.

“Pareho lang naman ang trabaho ng House of Representatives at ng Senado… gumagawa ng batas,” he said.

He also cited past proposals in the Senate, including efforts during previous Congresses to allow remote participation for detained former Senator Leila de Lima, as examples of earlier openness to virtual mechanisms.

Marcoleta called for consistency in legislative practice, saying digital participation should be viewed as a practical tool for continuity in lawmaking rather than a political issue.