We may be violating our own rules.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus questioned on Tuesday evening the majority bloc’s move to tackle and vote in plenary a motion introduced by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta last May 11 to allow online participation in Senate proceedings, saying it runs contrary to the chamber’s rules and committee system.
“Does it mean that we are now disregarding the committees (and committee system) of the Senate?” Lacson asked as he cited Section 24 of the Rules of the Senate, where the committees “shall hold meetings to discuss, decide and submit a report on all matters transmitted to them.”
In Filipino: Lacson: Hakbang na Payagan ang Online Participation sa mga Pagdinig ng Senado, Labag sa mga Alituntunin ng Senado
Section 24 also provides that the report must be approved by majority of the regular and ex officio members thereof.
Lacson pointed out that since all posts were declared vacant in the wake of the Senate leadership change last May 11, there is no Committee on Rules that would tackle the matter – and no chairman of the Committee on Rules, as the post of Majority Leader was also declared vacant.
“How can the Committee on Rules properly function in the absence of the committee members? They were vacated. Walang (chairman at) members ang Committee on Rules (The Committee on Rules has no chairman or members). We cannot invoke continuity,” he said.
Also, Lacson countered Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s invoking of Section 136 of the Rules of the Senate, where the Rules may be amended through a motion presented at least one day before its consideration, and the vote of the majority of the Senators present in the session shall be required for its approval.
He pointed out that Section 136 would apply if there was no referral, but the records of the May 11 session showed there was a referral of the matter to the Committee on Rules, which the Senate President had actually confirmed during Lacson’s interpellation.
At the time, Marcoleta proposed an amendment to Rule 14 on Senate sessions by inserting a new paragraph allowing a senator “for justifiable reasons” to attend and participate in the session through teleconference, video conference or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means, using appropriate information and communications technology.
Cayetano suggested giving the Committee on Rules “time to discuss the matter,” and the session was suspended until later in the evening.
“Now my question is, was there any discussion by the Committee on Rules? Apparently there was none. Because it’s now being reported out by the acting Majority Leader without consultation with any of the members,” Lacson said.
“You cannot just ram it down our throat,” he added.
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Lacson: Hakbang na Payagan ang Online Participation sa mga Pagdinig ng Senado, Labag sa mga Alituntunin ng Senado
Maaaring nilalabag natin ang sarili nating alituntunin.
Ito ang pagkwestyon ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ng gabi sa hakbang ng mayorya ng kapulungan na talakayin at pagbotohan sa plenaryo ang mosyon ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta noong Mayo 11 para payagan ang online participation sa mga pagdinig ng Senado, dahil taliwas umano ito sa mga alituntunin at committee system ng Senado.
“Does it mean that we are now disregarding the committees (and committee system) of the Senate?” tanong ni Lacson habang binabanggit ang Section 24 ng Rules of the Senate, kung saan nakasaad na ang mga komite ay “shall hold meetings to discuss, decide and submit a report on all matters transmitted to them.”
Nakasaad din sa Section 24 na ang ulat ay dapat aprubahan ng mayorya ng regular at ex officio members nito.
Ipinunto ni Lacson na declared vacant ang lahat na pwesto sa Senado matapos nagkaroon ng leadership change noong Mayo 11. Dahil dito, walang chairman o myembro ng Committee on Rules na tatalakay dito. Pati ang Majority Leader na chairman ng Committee on Rules ay declared vacant.
“How can the Committee on Rules properly function in the absence of the committee members? They were vacated. Walang (chairman o) members ang Committee on Rules. We cannot invoke continuity,” aniya.
Kinwestyon din ni Lacson ang pagbanggit ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sa Section 136 ng Rules of the Senate, kung saan maaaring amyendahan ang Rules sa pamamagitan ng mosyong inihain nang hindi bababa sa isang araw bago ito talakayin, at kinakailangan ang boto ng mayorya ng mga senador na present sa sesyon upang ito ay maaprubahan.
Ipinunto niya na mai-a-apply lamang ang Section 136 kung walang referral, ngunit ipinakita ng records ng sesyon noong Mayo 11 na ini-refer ang usapin sa Committee on Rules, na mismong kinumpirma ng Senate President sa interpellation ni Lacson.
Noong panahong iyon, iminungkahi ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta ang pag-amyenda sa Rule 14 hinggil sa mga sesyon ng Senado sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng bagong talata na magpapahintulot sa isang senador, “for justifiable reasons,” na dumalo at makilahok sa sesyon sa pamamagitan ng teleconference, video conference, o iba pang maaasahang remote o electronic means gamit ang naaangkop na information and communications technology.
Iminungkahi naman ni Cayetano na bigyan ang Committee on Rules ng “time to discuss the matter,” kaya isinuspinde ang sesyon hanggang gabi.
“Now my question is, was there any discussion by the Committee on Rules? Apparently there was none. Because it’s now being reported out by the acting Majority Leader without consultation with any of the members,” ani Lacson.
“You cannot just ram it down our throat,” dagdag niya.
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