MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday said it is leaving it to the Senate to decide on the proposal allowing remote voting during plenary sessions, but stressed that there is currently no force majeure or calamity that would justify its adoption.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement in reaction to the Senate minority bloc’s walkout on Tuesday, which was staged in protest against proposed amendments to the Senate rules allowing remote participation in plenary proceedings.

“Dati naman ay napayagan ang online voting, mga Zoom meeting, dahil mayroong tayong kalamidad na hinaharap noon. At sa pagkakataong ito, ay wala naman tayong masasabi na anumang force majeure, calamity, na magja-justify ng mga online voting,” Castro said in an interview with reporters in Japan.

She noted that online participation had previously been allowed during periods when the country was under emergency conditions, but said such justification is absent in the current situation.

Castro also underscored the importance of physical presence in legislative deliberations.

“At dapat din siguro malaman nila na mahirap magkaroon ng online voting kung wala ang tao mismo sa mga pagpupulong at pagkakaroon ng diskusyon,” she added.

The Palace official reiterated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not interfere in internal Senate matters.

“Still, muli, ito ay nasa kanilang pagpapasya. Wala sa pagpapasya ng administrasyon, wala sa pagpapasya ng Pangulo,” she said.

Rule XIV, Section 41 of the Senate Rules allows remote sessions through teleconference, video conference, or similar means in cases of force majeure or national emergencies, subject to approval by a majority of senators.

The provision also allows senators physically present to participate in plenary proceedings even when remote sessions are conducted.

The issue arose after acting Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva introduced a proposal by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to amend Senate rules to allow teleconferencing during sessions.

Minority senators opposed the move, noting that the Committee on Rules had yet to be constituted following the declaration of vacant committee posts after the election of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on May 11.

After both sides presented their positions, Cayetano moved for the plenary to deliberate and vote on the proposal, prompting objections from the minority bloc and their eventual walkout.

The minority senators questioned whether the push for remote voting was connected to the absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and other lawmakers facing legal issues who may benefit from remote participation.

Castro said the developments in the Senate would clarify whether lawmakers were acting in the public interest or for other motives.

“Dito makikita: ito ang magandang pagkakataon para malaman natin lahat kung ang mga liderato ba at mga leaders na ito ay nagtatrabaho para sa bayan o para sa pansarili o pang-iilan lamang,” she said.

“Kagaya nga ng sinabi ni Heneral Luna, ‘Bayan o sarili? Mamili ka,’” she added.

Castro also cited Senate leadership statements that Dela Rosa’s absence was considered “justifiable” due to security concerns linked to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, raising questions about eligibility for remote voting.

“So, ito ba ay isa sa mga justifiable reasons na mababanggit para makapagboto online? So, ito ay talagang malaking katanungan,” she said.

Malacañang further said it would not intervene in any possible investigations involving senators, including allegations raised even before the current majority bloc was formed.

“Hindi ito issue na ang administrasyon ang nagpupukol. Sila mismo ang nagbigay ng mga impormasyon patungkol po dito. At kung may pag-iimbestigang gagawin ang Ombudsman, ito po ay hindi pakikialaman ng administrasyon,” Castro said.

The Office of the Ombudsman Office of the Ombudsman earlier recommended plunder and bribery charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta over alleged campaign donations, while also announcing planned separate cases against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva over alleged flood control anomalies.