A heated exchange erupted in the Senate over a proposed amendment allowing electronic voting, with Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Senator Risa Hontiveros sharply disagreeing on whether the measure constitutes a new motion and which Senate rules should apply.
Marcoleta argued that the proposal is not a new motion and should be governed under Section 136 of the Senate Rules, which allows amendments through a motion approved by a majority vote.
“The Senate President invoked Section 136 paragraph 2… this is a special provision in precisely amending our rules,” Marcoleta said. He added: “Hindi po ito bagong motion… it was already moved last May 11. So who is talking about one day here?”
He stressed that under legal principle, special provisions take precedence over general rules, insisting the measure could be taken up immediately in plenary.
Hontiveros, however, disputed this interpretation, arguing that the proposal should be treated as a new motion requiring committee action under Section 24 of the rules.
“This is a new motion, Madam President. Bakit po? Under Section 24, nirefer yung unang motion sa Committee on Rules,” she said. Hontiveros added that the committee has not yet been constituted, making it impossible for any body to reintroduce the motion to plenary.
She further argued that procedural requirements mandate a one-day waiting period before consideration. “Kaya ko sinusugundahan si Sen. Pangilinan… kailangan bigyan ng isang araw pa pagkatapos ito i-move,” she said.
Marcoleta rejected this, insisting there is no basis for calling it a new motion and questioning the opposition’s interpretation of the rules.
“Hindi po bagong motion ito… sino po man nagsasabing bagong motion?” he said.
The debate escalated when Senator Erwin Tulfo raised a point of order, objecting to Marcoleta’s remarks.
“Point of order. Ad hominem. Hindi po tama yun na sasabihin niya na ang kasama niya ay walang alam sa batas,” Tulfo said, reacting to Marcoleta’s comment questioning the legal background of some senators.
The session highlighted deep divisions in the chamber over procedure, timing, and interpretation of Senate rules as discussions on electronic voting continue to stir debate among lawmakers.
