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, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson stressed this in response to a question Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano raised in a social media livestream Friday, on whether it is wrong to discuss changes to the rules.
“Nothing is wrong about debating on any motion, resolution or measure. What is wrong is ignoring our own rules and parliamentary procedures by stopping the debates to railroad the adoption of a motion already referred to the Committee on Rules,” he said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Mali ang Pagdedebate sa Rules, Pero Mali ang Pagpipilit na Wala sa Hulog
Cayetano, in a Facebook Live session Friday, questioned if it is wrong to change the rules, following a heated exchange last Tuesday over Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s May 11 motion to amend the Rules of the Senate to allow remote participation.
He also took issue with Lacson and other members of the Senate’s minority bloc, whom he accused of misleading their supporters because of their claim that they had no chance to ask questions or explain.
Lacson, who took part in the minority bloc’s walkout last May 26, reiterated that the majority bloc tried to force the issue when it moved to tackle and vote in plenary the motion to allow online participation.
He said this runs contrary to the Rules of the Senate and the chamber’s committee system, as Section 24 of the Rules of the Senate – that the committees shall discuss, decide and submit a report on all matters referred to them – applies in the case of Marcoleta’s motion. He noted the motion was already referred to the Committee on Rules, which remains unconstituted following a leadership change last May 11.
Lacson added Section 136 of the Rules, which Cayetano cited as basis for amending the rules through a motion presented at least a day before consideration, does not apply due to the prior referral to the Committee on Rules.
The minority members walked out after Cayetano insisted on dividing the house and putting the matter to a vote.
“We can amend our rules but we must follow the procedure. They wanted to amend the rules fastbreak-style. And we have a committee system. Congress cannot function without the committees,” Lacson stressed in an interview on DZBB radio on Friday.
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Lacson: Hindi Mali ang Pagdedebate sa Rules, Pero Mali ang Pagpipilit na Wala sa Hulog
Walang mali sa pagdedebate sa mga panukalang pagbabago sa Senate Rules—kabilang ang sa remote participation—ngunit may mali sa mga hakbang na wala sa hulog at tila isinasantabi o “fina-fastbreak” ang proseso, giit ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Ito ang tugon ni Lacson sa tanong ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sa isang social media livestream noong Biyernes na kung mali bang talakayin ang pagbabago sa mga patakaran.
“Nothing is wrong about debating on any motion, resolution or measure. What is wrong is ignoring our own rules and parliamentary procedures by stopping the debates to railroad the adoption of a motion already referred to the Committee on Rules,” aniya sa X.
Sa Facebook Live session noong Biyernes, kinuwestiyon ni Cayetano kung mali bang baguhin ang rules, kasunod ng mainit na pagtatalo noong Martes kaugnay ng May 11 motion ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na amyendahan ang Senate Rules para payagan ang remote participation.
Pinuna din niya si Lacson at iba pang miyembro ng Senate minority bloc, na inakusahan niyang nililinlang ang kanilang mga tagasuporta dahil sa kanilang pahayag na hindi sila nabigyan ng pagkakataong magtanong o magpaliwanag.
Iginiit ni Lacson, na lumahok sa walkout ng minority bloc noong Mayo 26, na tinangkang ipilit ng majority bloc ang isyu nang itulak nitong talakayin at botohan sa plenaryo ang motion para payagan ang online participation.
Aniya, taliwas ito sa Rules of the Senate at sa committee system ng kamara, dahil sa ilalim ng Section 24 ng Senate Rules, ang mga komite ang tatalakay, magpapasya, at magpapasa ng ulat sa mga bagay na naipasa sa kanila. Dagdag niya, ang motion ay naipasa na sa Committee on Rules, na nananatiling hindi pa naitutukod matapos ang pagbabago sa liderato noong May 11.
Idinagdag pa ni Lacson na ang Section 136 ng Rules na binanggit ni Cayetano bilang batayan sa pag-amyenda ng rules sa pamamagitan ng motion na ihahain isang araw bago ang pagtalakay ay hindi angkop dahil sa naunang referral sa Committee on Rules.
Nag-walkout sa sesyon ang minority members matapos igiit ni Cayetano ang pag-divide ng House at pagpapaboto sa usapin.
“Pwedeng amyendahan pero sundan natin ang procedure. Gusto niya amyendahan pero fastbreak… Kaya nga may committee system. Ang Kongreso di maka-function without committees,” giit ni Lacson noong Biyernes.
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