Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday denied allegations that a proposed amendment to Senate rules allowing remote participation is connected to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a Facebook Live broadcast, Cayetano said the proposal being discussed by senators concerns Senate rules and not the impeachment rules already adopted by the chamber when it formally convened as an impeachment court on May 18.
“Wala pong katotohanan na yung amendment ng rule na ito ay nakaugnay sa amendment sa rule sa impeachment,” Cayetano said.
“Ang pinag-uusapan ay rule sa Senado. Wala pong katotohanan yung mga nagpo-post na nagsasabing ito po ay may kinalaman sa impeachment,” he added.
According to Cayetano, changing the impeachment rules would require a separate process, including publication, making it impossible for the current proposal to affect the impeachment proceedings.
The issue surfaced during a heated Senate session on May 26 when members of the minority bloc objected to a proposal allowing remote participation in Senate sessions.
The proposal was introduced by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and triggered a debate on whether it could immediately be taken up on the Senate floor.
The dispute eventually led to a walkout by members of the minority bloc, while Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III moved for adjournment.
Cayetano maintained that the debate at the time was merely about whether the proposal could be discussed and not about its actual contents.
He also rejected claims by Senator Panfilo Lacson that the proposal was being rushed.
“Wala pong railroading,” Cayetano said.
The Senate president argued that the plenary has greater authority than committees and therefore had the power to take up the proposal.
He added that discussions on the measure had already begun weeks earlier and insisted the majority bloc was prepared to defend and explain the proposal before the chamber.
