'Halata naman': Tulfo says majority rushing remote vote for Bato, others facing charges

MANILA, Philippines — The minority bloc senators are raising serious concerns about the majority bloc’s motive for rushing to pass the proposal allowing senators to participate and vote in sessions through teleconferencing.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who already raised the question during the plenary debate on Tuesday evening, May 26, reiterated that the majority bloc wants to immediately amend the Senate rules to accommodate Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and other lawmakers who are facing charges and may be arrested.

“Halatang-halata naman na para ma-accommodate nila si Senator Bato, kung sino man ‘yung huhulihin na dalawa,” Tulfo said in an interview with DZMM on Wednesday, May 27.

(It’s very obvious that [they are rushing to pass the proposal] to accommodate Sen. Bato, and the two who are about to be arrested.)

Walkout

The 11-member minority bloc walked out of the session on Tuesday evening after a heated exchange with the majority over what they said was an attempt to “railroad” an amendment allowing senators to participate and vote via teleconferencing.

The minority senators later issued a joint statement condemning the attempt.

“At the time the motion was taken up, there was no duly constituted Committee on Rules and there was not even an elected Majority Leader who could properly guide a rules amendment through the regular process. How could there have been any action or discussion before the Committee on Rules when no Committee on Rules has been organized to date?” the statement read.

The proposal to add a Section 41(c) to the Senate Rules was pushed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on May 11, the same day Dela Rosa reappeared to cast his vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s Senate presidency.

Currently, Rule 14, Section 41(b) of the Senate Rules only allows the use of remote electronic means for sessions in situations involving force majeure or unforeseeable circumstances such as national emergencies, calamities and disasters. Teleconferencing for Senate sessions was last used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tulfo said they walked out of the session because they already knew what would happen.

“Kahapon ho, lumayas ho kami, tumayo kami kasi alam ho namin ‘yung patutunguhan. Magbobotohan, matatalo po, and therefore lulusot po ‘yung pinipilit ni Sen. Marcoleta na Section 41(c),” Tulfo added.

(Yesterday, we stormed out, we stood up, because we already knew how things would end up. They will vote, we lose, and therefore, the Section 41(c) proposal of Sen. Marcoleta will pass.)

Meanwhile, Tulfo apologized to the public for walking out of the session.

“Kami po sa minority, humihingi na ng paumanhin sa taong-bayan sa ginawa naming pag-walk out kasi nga po kitang-kita naman ‘yung pagre-railroad nila,” he said.

(We, in the minority, apologize to the public for walking out [of the Senate session] because it was obvious to us how they are “railroading” the amendment.)

Follow the procedure

Meanwhile, Sen. Win Gatchalian also shared the same sentiments as Tulfo, saying that the majority bloc did not follow the proper procedure for their proposed amendment.

“Ang gusto ng majority, i-amend ang rules na ito, at payagan ang mga senador kahit wala sa building, kahit hindi natin alam kung nasaan, ay payagan mag-attend ng session at bumoto pa,” Gatchalian said in an interview.

(The majority [bloc] wants to amend the rules and allow senators, even if they are not in the building or their whereabouts are unknown, to attend sessions and vote.)

“Meron tayong mga patakaran, rules na sinusundan. Malinaw kagabi na hindi nasundan ang proseso. Pinipilit na pagbotohan kahit iyong proseso ay hindi nasundan,” he added.

(We have rules that we follow. It was clear last night that the process was not followed. They are insisting on a vote even if the proper procedure was not observed.)

Gatchalian recommended that the minority and majority blocs first discuss the proposed amendment to reach a compromise before proceeding through proper channels.

Substantive issues. Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that aside from procedural issues, the minority also has “substantive problems” with Marcoleta’s proposal.

“Mas importante pa ba ‘yung pagpilitin botohin ‘yung voting by electronic means kaysa sa mga isyu talaga ng ating mga kababayan,” Hontiveros said.

(Is passing the voting by electronic means [proposal] more important than the real issues of our countrymen?)