President Marcos has rejected a proposal for online voting in the Senate, arguing there is no valid reason to implement it and warning it could allow senators to avoid accountability.
In an interview in Tokyo, Marcos noted that health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, which once justified remote sessions, no longer apply. He recalled the Senate tradition requiring physical presence for votes and said the rules allowing teleconferences were adopted only for emergencies.
Marcos specifically addressed the case of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who faces an ICC arrest warrant. He stated that dela Rosa should not vote unless physically present and described the proposal as seemingly tailored for the senator.
Minority senators walked out of the Senate on May 26 to protest the push for virtual participation. Business groups, civil society organizations, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños have also raised concerns about the moves affecting Senate legitimacy and accountability.
