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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'It's the rules, stupid': Lacson defends Hontiveros amid heated Senate rules dispute

'It's the rules, stupid': Lacson defends Hontiveros amid heated Senate rules dispute

Published May 27, 2026 11:38 am  |  Updated May 27, 2026 02:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson criticized what he described as a "condescending" remark toward Sen. Risa Hontiveros during a Senate dispute over online participation in plenary sessions.
  • Lacson and the Senate minority bloc argued that Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's motion should have remained with the Committee on Rules instead of being voted on in plenary.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday, May 27 criticized what he described as a “condescending” remark directed at Senator Risa Hontiveros during a heated clash over a motion allowing online participation in plenary proceedings.
Senator Panfilo
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (OS Lacson)
In a post on X, Lacson took issue with a fellow senator’s remarks questioning Hontiveros’ legal background during Tuesday evening’s debate on Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s motion seeking to allow senators to participate in sessions remotely.
“In a condescending tone, a colleague, who is a lawyer, took issue with Sen Hontiveros’ lack of ‘legal background.' I have a simple message — it’s the RULES, stupid!” Lacson said.
The exchange came as tensions flared between the Senate majority and minority blocs over the handling of Marcoleta’s motion.
Lacson and other members of the so-called “Solid Bloc 11 (SB-11)” minority bloc questioned the majority’s move to tackle and vote on the proposal in plenary. They argued that the matter had already been referred to the Committee on Rules and should no longer be taken up on the floor.
According to Lacson, Rule 24 of the Senate Rules — which states that committees should discuss and submit reports on matters referred to them — should have applied instead of Rule 136, which the majority invoked during the proceedings.
He also pointed out that the Committee on Rules currently neither has a chairman nor members after Senate positions were declared vacant following the chamber’s leadership change on May 11.
Despite being outnumbered, the minority bloc staged a walkout after the majority pushed through with the motion, with Lacson later framing the move as a strategic stand rather than a retreat.
“Senate minority walkout: we demonstrated how to score a victory by retreating. They may have superior numbers but we have the rules on our side,” he said in a separate post.
“When they in the majority play dirty, we in the minority will play it smart,” he added.
The confrontation marked the latest flashpoint in the increasingly tense exchanges between Senate factions following the recent reorganization of the chamber’s leadership and committee structure.

Related Tags

ping lacson rodante marcoleta Risa Hontiveros Senate of the Philippines
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