Lacson: Debating rules not wrong; rushing motion is

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said he is not opposed to discussing proposed amendments to Senate rules, but criticized attempts to rush the process.

“There is nothing wrong with debating proposed changes to the Senate Rules—including those on remote participation—but there is something very wrong with attempts to steamroll or ‘fastbreak’ the process,” Lacson said in a statement.

Lacson issued the remark in response to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who raised the issue in a social media livestream on Friday, asking whether it is improper to discuss changes to the chamber’s rules.

“Nothing is wrong about debating any motion, resolution, or measure. What is wrong is ignoring our own rules and parliamentary procedures by cutting short the debates and railroading the adoption of a motion already referred to the Committee on Rules,” Lacson said on X (formerly Twitter).

Cayetano had raised the question during a Facebook Live session following a heated exchange over Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s motion to amend Senate rules to allow remote participation in plenary sessions.

Lacson, who was part of the minority bloc’s walkout on May 26, said the majority attempted to force the issue by moving to tackle and vote on the motion in plenary.

He said this ran contrary to Senate rules and the chamber’s committee system, citing Section 24, which provides that committees shall discuss, decide, and submit reports on matters referred to them.

He added that Marcoleta’s motion had already been referred to the Committee on Rules, which remains unconstituted following a leadership change on May 11.

Lacson also said Section 136 of the Senate Rules does not apply due to the prior referral to the committee.

“We can amend our rules, but we must follow procedure. They wanted to amend the rules fastbreak-style. And we have a committee system. Congress cannot function without committees,” Lacson said in a DZBB interview on Friday.

Minority senators on Tuesday blocked a vote on a motion to tackle in plenary a proposed amendment allowing remote participation in Senate sessions after staging a walkout.

Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III later moved for a quorum call and the adjournment of the session after minority members left the floor.

With no quorum following the walkout, Senate President Cayetano said the majority would not object to the motion to adjourn but placed on record that the minority members had “scampered.”

The session was adjourned until 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1.—MCG, GMA News