FULL - Minority walkout halts Senate debate on remote participation — GMA News

[0:00] The distinguished gentleman from Tarlac, Pampanga, and Rizal, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, [0:06] proposed an amendment to the rules of the Senate, particularly Rule 14, Section 41. [0:12] Pursuwan to rule Section 136 of our rules of the Senate, a motion to amend the rules [0:18] must be presented at least one day before its consideration. [0:22] Hence, Madam President, in compliance with our rules, the gentleman from Tarlac, Pampanga, [0:29] and Rizal, Senator Marcoleta, is taking the floor, Madam President. [0:34] I'm moved that he be recognized to explain his proposed motion. [0:39] We recognize Senator Rodante Marcoleta. [0:43] Thank you, Madam President. [0:48] Madam President, I would just like to reiterate for the record the proposal to amend Rule 14, [0:56] Section 41, Senate session. [0:59] The proposal, Madam President, is by way of an additional paragraph, Section 41C, [1:07] after Section 41B of Rule 14 of the Senate rules, which will state as follows. [1:13] Section 41C, allow... [1:16] I would just like to reiterate for the record the proposal to amend Rule 14, Section 41, Senate session. [1:25] The proposal, Madam President, is by way of an additional paragraph, Section 41C, [1:33] after Section 41B of Rule 14 of the Senate rules, which will state as follows. [1:38] Section 41C, allow a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in the session [1:47] through teleconference, videoconference, or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means [1:54] using appropriate information and communication technology. [1:58] I so move, Madam President. [2:00] We take note of the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta. [2:14] I recognize Senator Ping Naxon. [2:16] Yes, thank you, Madam President. [2:17] This is a parliamentary inquiry. [2:21] What is the status of the motion introduced by the Honorable Marcoleta last May 11? [2:30] Has it been referred to the Committee on Rules? [2:33] I am told that it's been referred to the Committee on Rules, Majority Leader. [2:38] Yes, it has been referred to the Committee on Rules, and that's why in this particular deliberation, [2:47] the Committee on Rules is giving it back to the floor for a plenary action, Madam President. [2:52] Thank you, Mr. President. [2:55] Has the Committee on Rules been constituted? [3:01] I believe that Senator Joel Villanueva is the acting majority leader [3:05] and would be in the best position to answer the question. [3:08] Thank you, Madam President. [3:08] In the meantime, I recognize Senate President Cayetano. [3:11] Madam Chair, with the permission of Senator Villanueva, [3:15] so the Committee on Rules is not reporting out the proposal? [3:19] No, my question, Mr. President, I'm sorry, Madam President, with your permission. [3:24] My question is, has the Committee on Rules been constituted? [3:29] Yes. [3:29] So, Madam President, the answer there is the same answer to the question of Senator Pangilinan [3:36] and former Senate President Soto, that in accordance with Section 19, this is the same, [3:46] they continue to function. [3:48] Having said that, I was explaining that the motion of Senator Villanueva was not for the [3:55] Committee on Rules to report out what was referred to them, but to return to the plenary, [4:00] because if you look at Section 136 of our rules, the rules may be amended by means of a motion, [4:09] which should be presented at least one day before its consideration, [4:13] and a vote of majority senators present shall be required for its approval. [4:17] So, you do not need the endorsement, nor the forwarding of the Committee of Rules for the [4:24] amendment of the Committee on, for the amendments of the rules. [4:29] So, the only requirement is that it is put on the floor at least one day before, or the proposal [4:39] is made, and that a majority of the senators present will vote for its approval. [4:45] So, I just wanted to clarify that, just so that we don't have any miscommunication that whether [4:52] or not the Rules Committee met, who are the members, et cetera, because right now that's [4:56] irrelevant, because we have given back to the plenary the proposal. [5:02] Yeah. [5:03] Very clear. [5:04] Thank you, Senate President. [5:05] Madam President. [5:06] Senator Luxon's recommendation. [5:07] Does it mean that we are now disregarding the committees of the Senate? [5:10] So, the Committee Chairman, or the Chairman of any Committee, including the Rules Committee, [5:18] may just report out any motion or any resolution referred to it in plenary, and then just, you [5:29] know, it is within its power to just report it out by himself without any deliberation in [5:35] the Committee, without any Committee report. [5:38] Is that the new rule now, Mr. President, Madam President? [5:42] It is clearly... [5:43] There's no new rule. [5:44] I read the rule. [5:45] Senator Luxon is referring to resolutions or communications or anything referred to the [5:51] Committee on Rules. [5:53] We're talking about a motion to amend the rules. [5:58] We had the option of taking it up, but since everyone asked for one more day, it was given [6:04] to the Committee on Rules. [6:05] The Committee on Rules has an option to take it up, but the acting majority leader or acting [6:13] chairman of the committee gave it back to plenary, and the plenary is more, how do I put it? [6:21] Supreme. [6:22] Supreme. [6:23] Thank you, Senator Luxon, over the committee. [6:25] So, we didn't disregard the committee. [6:27] It is our choice from the start whether we want to give it to the committee or not. [6:31] So, when we give it...so, for example, I have a motion now to extend the session to June [6:41] 12 instead of June 5. [6:45] That could be given to the Committee on Rules or upon coordination with the House. [6:51] The plenary can decide it directly or we can give it to the Committee on Rules and after [6:56] he talks to the House of Representatives, he can even report it out, or he can easily, [7:03] legally, morally, just say that I am tossing it back to the plenary, which is what's happening [7:10] today. [7:11] Thank you, Madam President. [7:12] That is assuming that there was no referral. [7:15] But in this case, and I'd like to invite the attention of the body to journal number 62, [7:22] dated May 11, 2026, and if I may read the particular portion of this journal. [7:33] Proposed at 6.25 PM. [7:35] The session was resumed. [7:37] Proposed amendment to the Rules of the Senate. [7:41] Senator Marcoleta proposed an amendment to Rule 14 Senate sessions of the Rules by inserting [7:49] the new paragraph C under Rule 41, which reads, A or C, allow a senator for justifiable reasons [7:57] to attend and participate in the session through teleconference, videoconference, or other [8:03] reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate information and communications [8:10] technology. [8:11] Now, here's the portion, Mr. President, or Madam President. [8:15] While expressing no objection to the proposal, Senate President Cayetano A suggested giving [8:22] the Committee on Rules time to discuss the matter. [8:24] Now, my question is, was there any discussion by the Committee on Rules? [8:28] Apparently, there was none. [8:30] Because it's now being reported out by the Acting Majority Leader without consultation [8:36] with any of the members. [8:38] And by the way, Mr. Madam President, wala pang Committee on Rules eh? [8:43] I believe that it was mentioned, and I will reiterate from my understanding, that there [8:49] was no Committee on Rules meeting because that motion is reverted back to plenary. [8:56] Meaning, we are not ignoring the fact that, of course, committees must hold meetings. [9:05] But this particular motion is being referred back to plenary. [9:09] And may we just put on record, it says in Rule, or Section 136, the rules may also be amended [9:16] by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day, and we're complying with that [9:22] before its consideration. [9:23] And the vote of the majority of the senators present in this session shall be required for [9:28] its approval. [9:29] I believe that is what the Senate President had explained. [9:32] Evidently, Madam President, action was taken. [9:35] And the action was to refer it to the Committee on Rules, since the position of Majority Floor [9:41] Leader was vacated. [9:44] So how can the Committee properly function in the absence of a Committee, yeah, of the Committee [9:53] members? [9:54] As the Senate President had stated, there is a rule of a continuing operations of the Committee, [10:02] while the new head has not been. [10:03] But they were vacated, Madam President. [10:04] Yes. [10:05] Walang members ang Committee on Rules. [10:07] So we cannot invoke continuity, because we vacated all committees, all positions, including [10:13] the members. [10:14] And may I invite you to Section 24 of our Rules, Madam President. [10:18] The Committee shall hold meetings to discuss, decide, and submit a report on all matters transmitted [10:25] to them. [10:26] This was transmitted to the Committee on Rules. [10:29] So the Committee shall hold, including the Committee on Rules, shall hold meetings to [10:35] discuss, decide, and submit a report. [10:37] There is no report, Mr. President or Madam President. [10:40] Madam President. [10:41] So we are violating our own rules. [10:43] We recognize Senate President. [10:45] Mr. President, the Chair already made a ruling, and it's not appropriate to argue with [10:52] the Chair, because as explained to Senator Laxon, the Committee did not report it out. [10:59] He read the journal of May 11, but he did not read the motion of Senator Joel today. [11:06] His motion today was pursuant to Rule 136 of the Rules, a motion to amend the rules. [11:12] Meaning, if Joel was no longer the majority leader, if I was the majority leader now, or [11:17] even an ordinary member, that motion was carried, no one objected that we take it up. [11:24] Because Madam Chair, we're bringing it back to plenary. [11:29] So natural po, walang discussion sa Committee on Rules. [11:33] Kasi wala namang po sa rules natin na kailangan i-discuss sa Committee on Rules. [11:37] We did that on May 11, so that everyone will have an opportunity to study the rule. [11:43] It's a very simple amendment. [11:45] So we should go to the discussion of the amendment if anyone is objecting to the amendment. [11:51] But definitely, the right to propose an amendment is a right guaranteed by our rules. [11:57] Senator Marcoleta has an amendment. [11:59] We should go to discussing the merits or demerits of having that rule. [12:04] You already ruled that it is proper for the plenary to take it up. [12:08] So may I request or move that we, if there are any objection, we discuss their objection. [12:14] I'm objecting. [12:16] That's the effect of my manifestation, Madam President. [12:20] I'm objecting because I'm invoking Section 24 of our rules. [12:24] And as I read into the records, the journal of May 11, 2026, [12:31] na-repair po ito sa Committee on Rules. [12:33] And there was no discussion. [12:34] Action was taken, actually, by this body. [12:38] Then, Madam Chair, if there's an objection, may I move that we divide the house? [12:42] On that issue, not on the issue of whether or not the rule is good. [12:49] Your issue is whether or not it's proper to take it up on the floor. [12:55] The position of the majority is that there's no rule being violated. [13:01] So we will vote. [13:04] The presiding officer has already ruled, but the gentleman continues to object. [13:10] So we have to vote on it. [13:12] We're not voting on the amendment yet. [13:14] We're voting on whether the amendment is proper or not. [13:17] Yes, interjection, Madam President. [13:20] Yes, Minority Leader, Senator Soto. [13:22] We will have to support that resolution or thinking of Senator Laxon, [13:34] which is we did not constitute the Committee on Rules. [13:39] So what are we discussing right now? [13:41] I suggest that we constitute the Committee on Rules and discuss it there. [13:46] How do I know this? [13:48] I'm a minority leader. I'm not a member of the rules. [13:51] It's an ex-officio. [13:52] Is it called? [13:53] No. [13:54] What is it? [13:56] It's been embraced? [13:57] Point of order, Madam Chairman. [13:59] Where in the rules does it say that an amendment has to pass the Committee on Rules? [14:05] Section 24, Madam President. [14:07] Anong sabi po sa Section 24? [14:09] The Committee shall hold meetings to discuss, decide and submit a report on all matters transmitted to them. [14:17] Madam Chairman, that's not the rule. The rule is 136. [14:20] Yes. [14:21] 136. Can you please, for the third time, may we request the Senate President to read into the record the rule 136. [14:26] The rules may be amended by means of a motion which would be presented at least one day before its consideration, [14:33] and the vote of the majority of the senators present in the session hall shall be required for its approval. [14:38] So I respect their objection, but how do we determine objections in this Senate? [14:46] We vote. [14:47] So if there is an objection, they have already explained their position, we have explained our position. [14:56] I move that we divide the House, Madam Chair. [14:58] May I, Mr. President? [15:00] We are several members of the minority here, and only Senator Luxon has spoken. [15:09] Why are we re-roading this process, Mr. President? [15:12] Madam Chair. [15:13] I have a number of issues that I'd like to raise regarding this motion, Mr. President. [15:17] They are citing Section 136, assuming for the sake of argument that their position is correct. [15:24] The second paragraph, Mr. President, says the rules may also be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day before its consideration. [15:35] We submit, Mr. President, that the earlier motion that was entered or was referred to the Committee on Rules. [15:46] This is a new motion, Mr. President. [15:48] Yeah, correct. [15:49] And therefore, we have to take consideration of the one-day requirement before we can act on it, Mr. President. [15:54] And that should be, if not tomorrow, because we don't have any session tomorrow, that should be on Monday, Mr. President. [16:02] Madam President. [16:03] Let me reiterate, the rules may also be amended by means of a motion which should be presented at least one day before its consideration. [16:12] We submit that the motion that was mentioned last May 11 was referred to the Committee on Rules. [16:22] Yeah. [16:23] This is a new motion, Mr. President, that is being presented on the floor, which requires that it be presented one day before it is considered. [16:31] And therefore, we have to consider this motion on Monday, Mr. President. [16:35] Madam President. [16:36] As explained by the Acting Majority Leader, the motion of Senator Marcoleta has been brought to the plenary. [16:47] And both the majority and the minority had mentioned Rule Section 136. [16:54] And it says that the vote of the majority of the senators present in session shall be required for the approval. [17:00] Madam President. [17:01] I believe that this rule has been mentioned more than five times. [17:04] Madam President. [17:05] Madam President. [17:06] I believe also that the interpretation of the rule is different. [17:10] So I take note of the manifestation of Senator Panglinan. [17:15] Mr. President, if I may just continue, Mr. President. [17:20] All in previous. [17:22] Senator Laxon actually has the floor. [17:24] With the permission of Senator Laxon. [17:26] Senator Laxon has the floor. [17:27] May we continue with the manifestation of Senator Laxon. [17:32] And then he, after him, he will yield to Senator Panglinan. [17:37] Madam President. [17:38] The invocation of the Senate President of Rule 136 is premised on the assumption that there was no action taken. [17:47] But we took action. [17:49] We referred it to the Committee on Rules. [17:52] So Section 24 now applies. [17:54] Madam President. [17:55] You're going to just ram down our throat something that the numbers can dictate, Mr. President. [18:02] Madam Chair. [18:04] Yes, Senate President. [18:05] Madam Chair. [18:06] First of all, we're just repeating the arguments. [18:09] I respect his argument, but I disagree with it. [18:12] Secondly, they've used already three words. [18:15] Ram down their throat, railroaded, binabraso. [18:21] In this democratic institution, when we disagree, we vote. [18:29] When we have rules, we follow the rules. [18:32] The particular rule in amending the rules is 136. [18:36] We're following that. [18:37] So why are we using unparliamentary language to express or try to provoke the kind of argument [18:53] we don't want between the majority and minority? [18:55] You have your opinion. [18:56] We respect that. [18:57] We have our opinion. [18:58] So how do we resolve that? [19:00] By voting. [19:01] Now, if you think we violated the rule, then go to court. [19:04] But we do not think that we violated the rule. [19:07] It is very clear. [19:08] So my point of order, Madam Chair. [19:10] They're out of order by insisting that there's another rule except for 136. [19:15] So I move that we vote on it, Madam. [19:17] We divide the house. [19:18] Objection. [19:19] Objection. [19:21] There's an objection. [19:22] Then we vote. [19:23] So may we proceed with the vote, Madam President. [19:25] Mr. President, I was earlier, it was the manifestation of the presiding officer, the Madam Chairperson, [19:33] that after Senator Laxon, I be allowed to speak, Mr. President. [19:36] Are we now curtailing my right to speak, Mr. President? [19:40] Madam Chair may answer that. [19:41] We are not able to ask questions as to why we are amending the rules. [19:45] We are not able to ask questions as to who they wish, who will benefit from the amendment to the rules. [19:52] Thank you for the kind information of the... [19:54] Is this rule, Mr. President? [19:55] Is this rule, Mr. President, for Senator Batok, who is not here? [19:57] I was about to recognize Senator Pangilinan. [19:59] We would like to raise these valid questions, Mr. President, before we go into a vote, Mr. President. [20:04] Madam Chair. [20:05] Please, we should not be... [20:06] How can the presiding officer recognize Senator Pangilinan? [20:11] Please know that I would never curtail your right to speak. [20:19] Just as in 2004, I believe you were seated, and I was a vice presidential candidate of FPJ then, [20:28] and my microphone was closed, and my right to speak was closed, was not given. [20:34] I remember that time now, and the word noted was said to me. [20:41] That will not happen now. [20:42] I will not do that to you. [20:44] And I'm not curtailing your right to speak, Senator Pangilinan, except that you were speaking at the same time. [20:50] And I was about to recognize you because Senator Lacson had the floor. [20:55] Thank you, Madam President, for that clarification. [20:58] So I just wanted to be clear on record. [21:00] Because I recognize you're being emotional, but it will go on Senate record that the presiding officer was curtailing your right to speak. [21:10] I would never do that. [21:12] And I would not do what I experienced in 2004 in the House of Representatives in the canvassing of the votes then. [21:20] Mr. President. [21:21] Thank you. [21:22] Madam President, would you respect, Mr. President? [21:24] I was not referring to the presiding officer. [21:26] Mr. President. [21:27] I'm yielding the floor to Senator Pangilinan. [21:29] Yes. [21:30] Thank you, Senator Lacson. [21:31] We recognize Senator Francis Pangilinan. [21:33] Yes, Mr. President. [21:35] And allow me to clarify, Madam President. [21:39] I was not referring to the presiding officer in terms of the curtailing of my right to speak and to raise questions, Mr. President. [21:50] Because it was the Senate President who was moving to divide the House, Mr. President, without sufficient debates. [21:59] Mr. President, this is the first time I'm going to experience this in a long time, wherein debates are now being curtailed because there's a motion to divide the House. [22:06] Since you're not being curtailed, we would like to hear your objection to the motion. [22:10] Thank you. [22:11] Mr. President, 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. [22:24] President provides, Mr. President, that when we amend our rules, we do so by way of resolution. [22:31] We do not have that resolution now. [22:34] In fact, Mr. President, a total 48 amendments of our rules all went through resolutions. [22:43] This is the first time after 48 amendments, Mr. President, that we do not have a resolution so that we can vote and amend the rules properly, Mr. President. [22:53] Point of order. [22:54] Point of order. [22:56] Point of order takes precedence. [22:57] Yes, Mr. President. [22:58] Point of order takes precedence. [22:59] First of all, I hope we learned our lesson. [23:02] Senator Pangilinan already apologized to Senator Padilla, then now you're shouting at us. [23:09] No? [23:10] No, the record will show, naka-tape naman eh. [23:13] Ang taas-taas ng boses nyo eh. [23:14] Diba? [23:15] You were shouting at kaya nga hindi magkarinigan. [23:18] Now, what's my point of order? [23:20] We are not discussing the merits yet of the amendment. [23:26] No one's curtailing your rights because wala pa tayo dun eh. [23:30] Ang pinagbubutohan natin ngayon kung pwedeng i-take up sa floor o hindi. [23:35] Yun ang itina-take up natin. [23:37] And the arguments have already been laid out. [23:43] And Senator Pangilinan and I were together in 2009 where we had debates here where Senator [23:52] Enrile did not even allow amendments and then we voted. [23:58] It depends on every issue, Madam Chair. [24:01] There's no specific rule of the amount of time. [24:05] I was asking the gentleman about certain issues in one resolution. [24:10] He refused nga for further interpolation and said it's time to vote. [24:15] They were the majority. [24:17] So, Madam Chair, we're here. [24:18] We're willing. [24:19] Senator Mercoleta is ready to take questions. [24:22] Ang pinagbubutohan lang po natin ngayon, simple lang. [24:25] Whether or not we can take, whether or not the proposal to amend the rules is in order. [24:34] Yun pa lang, ho. [24:35] Yung specific amendment, sino magbe-benefit, paano magbe-benefit, et cetera. [24:40] We support the right of Senator Pangilinan to ask questions, pero wala pa tayo dun eh. [24:44] So, again, may I raise the previous question, Madam Chair, the point of order, the parliamentary reason. [24:52] Can I be given the right to speak? [24:54] I am the move-on here. [24:55] I need to speak because I am the move-on. [25:00] Thank you, Madam President. [25:02] Thank you, Madam President. [25:04] Thank you, Madam President. [25:06] Thank you, Madam President. [25:07] The Senate President invoked Section 136, Paragraph 2. [25:12] Kung babasahin po natin ito, Madam President, napakasimple lang. [25:15] Ito pong Section 136, Paragraph 2, is a special provision in precisely amending our rules. [25:24] In Section 24 po, this is a general rule. [25:27] Kung mapapansin po ninyo, it presupposes that we will take up all the bills referred to that committee. [25:35] General po yung function niya. [25:38] One 36 second paragraph is a special provision. [25:43] Sa principle po ng batas, yun pong special provision takes precedence over a general provision. [25:53] Yun lang po, basahin po ninyo. [25:55] Hindi nga po, it will not even take one day because this is not a new motion. [25:59] Kung mapapansin nyo, nireiterate ko lang po ito eh. [26:02] It was already moved last May 11 pa po. [26:08] So that is even more than one day. [26:10] So who is talking about one day here? [26:12] Ang pinag-uusapan po natin, unless we respect Section 136, [26:18] ang linaw-linaw po. [26:20] It talks about the rules may also be amended. [26:23] Diretso po ito eh. [26:24] So this takes precedence over Section 24. [26:28] Simpleng-simple lang po ito eh. [26:30] Madam President. [26:33] Thank you, Sen. Marcoleta. [26:35] We recognize Sen. Teresa Antevero. [26:37] Salamat, Madam President. [26:38] Meron din po akong substantive na interpolation [26:42] sa motion ngayong araw [26:44] na nire-raise o itatalakayan ni Sen. Marcoleta [26:48] yung text na pinamudmod ni Sen. President sa atin ngayong hapon. [26:55] Pero una, gusto ko pong segundahan yung sinabi ni Sen. Pangilinan. [27:01] Bagong motion ito, Madam President. [27:04] Bakit po? [27:05] Sa ilalim ng Section 24, nirefer yung unang motion [27:10] binanggit ni Sen. Marcoleta noon sa Committee on Rules. [27:14] Ngayon kung sasabihin na ibinalik yung mosyong iyon, [27:20] yung unang mosyon ni Sen. Marcoleta sa plenary, [27:23] sino ang gumawa noon? [27:26] Dapat ang Committee on Rules. [27:28] Na-initiate na po ang prosesong iyon alinsunod sa Section 24. [27:33] Eh hindi pa nga po nakoconstitute ang Committee on Rules. [27:37] Wala pa nga pong minority contingent sa Committee on Rules. [27:41] So wala pang body na pwedeng ibalik yung unang mosyon ni Sen. Marcoleta sa plenary. [27:48] Kaya ko sinusugundahan ang sinabi ni Sen. Pangilinan. [27:52] Ito pong mosyon na gustong talakayan ni Sen. Marcoleta [27:56] at pinamudmod ni Sen. President sa atin. [27:59] Bagong mosyon po siya. [28:01] Kung kaya't nag-a-apply po ang Rule Section 136 [28:06] na kailangan bigyan ng isang araw pa [28:09] pagkatapos ito i-move para talakayin. [28:12] And tama si Sen. Pangilinan. [28:14] Sa lunes pa po yun, Madam President. [28:17] Salamat, Madam President. [28:18] Madam President, without giving meaning to anything, [28:21] ito pong mahirap kasi kung wala po tayong legal background dito. [28:27] Kaya sinasabi ko na nga po, [28:29] hindi po bagong mosyon ito eh. [28:31] Hindi siya bagong mosyon. [28:34] Kasasabi ko lang po, May 11, minub ko na po ito eh. [28:38] Sino po magsasabi na bagong mosyon? [28:40] Mr. President, point of order ad hominem. [28:43] Sinasabi ko lamang po, ang sinasabi ko lang, [28:45] kanina ko po po sinasabi, [28:47] Section 136 ay walang kinalaman, [28:51] walang alam sa batas. [28:53] Paldies. [30:33] Paldies. [30:34] Paldies. [30:37] . [30:39] . [30:42] . [30:54] . [30:55] . [30:56] . [31:00] . [31:01] . [31:02] . [31:03] . [31:04] . [31:05] I'm listening to the two senators, and as I mentioned [31:27] and I see the point of Senator Risa, but I'm also listening to Senator [31:36] Marcoleta. It's a love language, but I don't think they're meant to be any [31:43] offense. Having said that, we're only discussing whether we will take up the [31:49] amendment or not. And we have exhausted, and as I mentioned [31:53] kanina, wag na tayong gumamit ng brasuhan, et cetera, and I see the point of [31:59] Senator Risa, but I'm also listening to Senator Marcoleta. It's a, kumbaga sa [32:05] libro, iba yung love language, but I don't think they're meant to be any [32:10] offense. Having said that, we're only discussing whether we will take up the [32:15] amendment or not. And we have exhausted already all the arguments. This is a [32:22] simple motion. So I move that we divide the house, may irritate my motion, then we [32:27] can go into the merits and they can try to convince us whether or not we agree. So [32:37] the motion is to take up the amendment to our rules, as proposed by Senator [32:45] Marcoleta. The objection is that it is not in order because we did not follow our own [32:51] rules. [32:51] Madam Chair, Madam President. [32:56] Before that. [32:57] Madam President. [32:59] Yes, we recognize Senator Irwin Tulfo. [33:01] Madam President, my question is, why is the majority in such a hurry to tackle this [33:10] motion? This allowing a Senator for justifiable reasons to attend and [33:15] participate in the session through teleconference, whereas in rule 14, section [33:22] 41 under B, it's as convenient to hold the session through teleconference, video [33:29] conference, or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means using appropriate [33:34] information and communications technology system due to force majeure, Madam [33:39] President, or the occurrence of a national emergency. I guess, Madam President, this [33:46] justifiable reason, what is that? Does that fall under force majeure or does it fall [33:52] under national emergency, Madam President? My question is, why are we in so hurry? Why [33:59] are they, the majority, in a hurry to tackle this motion and divide the house, Madam President? [34:07] I need, I need, we need, we need answers in the minority. Madam Chair. [34:11] Or is it because, Madam Chair, they are in a hurry because of news reports that probably two [34:18] of our colleagues might land in jail this weekend? Is that the reason why? Is that the reason why [34:24] they have to have this inserted, this section 41C, para makaboto po kung sino man yung makukulong, [34:32] that's the announcement ng ombudsman na may, may lalabas na po ang warat na ila sa mga [34:38] kasama natin, Madam President. That is my question, Madam President. [34:43] Madam Chair, the gentleman is out of order because his question, sanong mamadali, bakit, [34:51] that can be discussed in the actual motion, can be discussed after the motion whether we should [35:00] take it up. We take offense that bibigyan niya ng ganyang kulay. It's just like us saying, [35:07] are you afraid if we have the hearing on the blue ribbon on flood control, e, mababanggit ka rin. [35:13] You do not make that kind of statements here in the Senate because you assume good faith from [35:19] everyone. That rule hindi minadali. May 11 pa huyon. So, Madam Chair, I move that we divide the house. [35:29] And the voting will be done via Viva Voce? [35:31] Madam President. Minority Leader. [35:33] I move to adjourn or a quorum call. Ati siya hire presidents, Madam President. [35:51] So, I only see the minority leader representing the minority the others had left? [35:58] Madam Chair, we will not object but for the record, they scampered out and left the minority leader [36:06] instead of discussing the rule. We are not even discussing the rule yet. And then, [36:15] ganoon na yung allegation nila. And no one from the minority stood up to say that out of order [36:24] si Senator Irwin Tulfo. So, we will not object, Madam Chair. In fact, we move that we adjourn till [36:32] 5 p.m. Monday. [36:34] Madam President, before that, Madam President's motion to adjourn is not debatable. [36:39] I think it's not debatable. It's not debatable. We're not debating, Madam President. [36:47] I'm not debating, Madam Chair. [36:49] Parliamentary inquiry. [36:51] Yes, Senator McCullough. [36:53] Noong pong nagsimula tayo, Madam, meron po ba tayong quorum? [36:57] We had a quorum, yes. [37:02] Yes, Madam President. Kapagka po ba nag-walk out ang minority, nawawala po yung quorum? [37:08] Nagsimula po tayong may quorum. It doesn't matter if they walk out. [37:11] Yes. [37:13] I think we still have the quorum. [37:14] Madam President, Madam President, once there is a quorum call, you have to call the roll. [37:22] Kahit naka-present lahat o kulang kanina o there was a motion to dispense, whatever that is. [37:28] A quorum quorum call, motion to adjourn, hindi po yung cover ng roll natin, Madam President. [37:38] As reiterated by the Senate President and as conveyed by the minority leader, former Senate President, [37:45] the rule states that the motion to adjourn takes precedence and not taking sides and we will adjourn [37:53] session until 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026. [38:00] June 2nd? June 1. June 1 ba yun? [38:04] The birthday of Senator Laxon. So we will have cooler heads. [38:07] Okay. [38:08] Yung sinasabi dila nagwa-walk out sila. [38:43] Okay, bye-bye. [38:45] Sige, sige, bye-bye. [38:50] Halong tayong masita. [38:52] So, gito po. [39:00] Ako, pero parang sarili ko? [39:09] Parang sarili ko? [39:10] Um. [39:14] Hi, I'm here. [39:15] Hi, I'm here. [39:16] Hi, I'm here. [39:17] Hi, I'm here. [39:18] Hi, I'm here. [39:19] Hi, I'm here. [39:20] Hi, I'm here. [39:22] I'm here. [39:24] I'm here. [39:25] I'm here. [39:26] I'm here. [39:27] I'm here. [39:28] Hi, I'm here. [39:30] Hi, I'm here. [39:31] I'm here. [39:32] Hi, I'm here. [39:34] I'm here. [39:35] Thank you.