Minority bloc senators walkout from plenary session

The Senate session abruptly ended this week when members of the minority bloc walked out from the session hall, ending a heated discussion on a proposal to amend rules on voting.

Members of the Senate Minority bloc at the plenary session on Tuesday, May 26. Photo from Senate Social Media Unit.

Manuel Mogato | May 27, 2026

MANILA — The Senate session abruptly ended this week when members of the minority bloc walked out from the session hall, ending a heated discussion on a proposal to amend rules on voting.

The 20th Senate’s first regular legislative session will resume next week, on the same day the upper chamber, sitting as an impeachment court, awaits the response from the vice president who is facing charges of bribery, misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and threats to assassinate the president.

As a legislative body, a member of the majority bloc proposed to change the way the Senate would vote on any major decision by allowing remote voting.

The Senate President, Alan Peter Cayetano, even moved to divide the house and decide on the proposal.

But the minority protested and questioned the haste in approving the proposal, arguing it might favor the majority bloc in allowing a fugitive member to cast a vote, including in the impeachment of the vice president.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has been on the run after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity. (Also read: Self-Serving Criminal Behavior by Senators and the Undermining of a Republic)

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is similarly facing charges at the ICC after he was arrested in March 2025.

Dela Rosa was the former National police chief under Duterte when he the president and carried out the war of drugs policy that killed thousands.

The proposal would allow Dela Rosa to cast his vote on the impeachment of Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio. (Also read: Senate convenes as an impeachment court to hold trial to remove or not the vice president)

It could allow other senators who may be arrested and jailed for the anomalous infrastructure projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman is set to file plunder charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada this week.

Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Joel Villanueva may face similar charges before the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court.

The Sandiganbayan had issued hold departure order against Marcoleta to stop him leaving the country.

Senators Estrada, Marcoleta, and Villanueva belonged to the majority bloc.

Minority Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned the majority bloc’s move to railroad the proposal to favor jailed senators.

His colleague, Senator Risa Hontiveros, also questioned the proposal without passing through the rules committee, which has to be formed.

When the majority bloc insisted on discussing the proposal without going through a process at the rules committee, the minority left the session hall.

Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III questioned the quorum and moved to adjourn the session.

The Senate holds only three day a week session from Monday to Wednesday.

The senators decided to resume legislative session next Monday as the nation goes on holiday for a Muslim Eid al-Adha.