Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano engaged in a sharp exchange during plenary deliberations on a proposed amendment allowing electronic voting, as senators disputed whether proper procedures were being followed in bringing the measure to the floor.
Pangilinan questioned the timing and process of the proposal, stressing that Senate rules amendments have traditionally undergone formal resolutions and committee review.
“Allow me to clarify… there are a lot of questions that have to be raised as to why this amendment to the rules is being undertaken at this time,” Pangilinan said, stressing that previous amendments had always gone through formal resolutions.
He added that, based on Senate practice, rule changes are traditionally approved through resolutions, noting: “This is the first time after 48 amendments that we do not have a resolution so that we can properly amend the rules.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda intervened, assuring Pangilinan that he would be allowed to state his objections to the motion.
However, Cayetano insisted that the chamber was not yet discussing the substance of the amendment but only whether the proposal could be taken up in the plenary.
“We are not discussing the merits yet. No one is curtailing your rights because wala pa tayo doon,” Cayetano said.
He emphasized that the current motion was limited to determining whether the proposal was in order and could proceed to discussion.
“We’re here. We’re willing… Ang pinagbobotohan lang po natin ngayon, simple lang. Whether or not we can take up the proposal to amend the rules is in order,” he added.
Cayetano also maintained that senators would still be free to raise questions once the motion was properly taken up, underscoring that debate on the substance had not yet begun.
The exchange highlighted continuing procedural tensions in the chamber as senators grapple with proposed changes to Senate rules amid ongoing political disagreements.
