Opposition lawmakers question rules on martial law extension vote

MANILA, Philippines — A number of opposition lawmakers on Saturday questioned the proposed rules on the Congress special joint session’s voting on the extension of martial law.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman moved for the amendment of the proposed rules for the joint session. He was asking for a three minute explanation during the casting of vote.

LIVE: Joint Congress session on martial law

Prior to the proposed amendment, the joint session was postponed for three minutes after Lagman said he was not able to receive a copy of the ten-page proposed rules.

“In the proposed rules, the explanation would come after the announcement of the results this would appear to be a post mortem explanation,” Lagman said.

Lagman said that explaining the vote after the results have been announced is only applicable during the voting on the third reading of a bill. He said that explanation while casting of vote should be allowed in other issues as well and not just in martial law.

Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza agreed with Lagman’s argument, saying that explanation after the results have been released will have “no relevance at all anymore.”

“This  is a very critical issue that were going to vote on and to follow one set of rules that we have been doing in the House may not be the best manner to elaborate and inform the whole country about the issue that we have been voting on,” Atienza said.

However, House Majority Floor Leader Rudy Fariñas countered that the proposed rules for the Congress special joint session is in consonance with the rules of the House. He insisted that explanation is only allowed after the Secretary General of the nominal voting has announced the results.

The opposition lawmakers failed to have the proposed amendment on rules be approved as majority of the members of the House of Representatives objected the amendment.

Senate on interpellation

Meanwhile, on the part of the Senate, Senate Minority Floor leader Franklin Drilon asked for five minutes of interpellation on the votes. Originally, the proposed rules indicated that the senators may only be allowed to interpellate for not more than two minutes.

“Two minutes is too short,” Drilon said, adding that minutes unused will be passed on to other members.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel suggested four minutes extension instead of five so that it would be equally divisible to other senators.

Pimentel’s suggestion was agreed upon by Drilon and the amendment was approved by other members of the Senate without any objection.  

The two chambers of the 17th Congress are currently convening for the extension of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. There were 14 senators and 242 solons present during the joint session.