MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed opposition to proposals allowing online voting in the Senate plenary, saying there is no valid basis for such a system under normal circumstances.

In a media interview in Tokyo, Japan, the President said remote voting was only justified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when health risks and mobility restrictions prevented full physical attendance in Congress.

“I disagree with that,” Marcos said when asked to react to the proposal.

“I understand that we had to do it in Covid because there was a health risk. I do not see any particularly good reason for us to allow that now,” he added.

Marcos emphasized that Senate tradition requires lawmakers to be physically present during voting, warning that shifting to online participation could affect accountability, transparency, and proper legislative procedure.

He also raised concerns about extending remote participation to lawmakers facing legal and security issues.

The President noted that the long-standing practice of the Senate requires physical presence on the floor during voting.

“The long-standing tradition of the Senate is that if you are not physically present on the floor when a vote is taken, that you cannot in fact vote,” he said.

He added that exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic were based solely on health and safety concerns, which are no longer present.

“We do not have those concerns now about health and safety,” Marcos said.

The President also alluded to proposals that could benefit Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who is reportedly in hiding following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant related to alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.