MANILA, Philippines — The minority walkout at the Senate did not end with senators simply leaving the floor. A complementary move came from the one senator from the bloc who stayed behind.
Sen. Tito Sotto, the chamber president who was ousted by a new majority, remained in the plenary late Tuesday, May 26, after other minority senators stormed out in protest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta‘s proposed rule change to allow at least one absentee senator to participate remotely in sessions.
The bloc suspected the move could benefit Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who has not returned to the upper house since leaving its protective custody on May 14, effectively evading an International Criminal Court arrest warrant on him.
From the floor, Sotto, who remained after his 10 colleagues left, moved to adjourn the session after the walkout left the chamber without a quorum.
Under Rule XV, Section 44 of the Senate rules, a majority of senators constitutes a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, a smaller number may adjourn from day to day or compel the attendance of absent members.
Section 45 also provides that when the question of lack of quorum is raised, the chair must immediately verify it through a roll call.
On Philstar.com: Quorum explained: Why Senate can’t act without enough members on the floor
By staying behind, Sotto was able to invoke the procedural effect of the walkout: without enough senators present, the chamber could no longer act on the proposed rules change.
Earlier, he questioned why the floor was about to vote on a proposal that had not already gone through the Committee on Rules, as procedure requires.
Nods
Filipinos online quickly picked up on the procedural point and Sotto’s role. One post on X described him as the senator who “intentionally did not leave the session hall.”
“He just bluntly told Senator Loren [Legarda] who was the presiding chair that the motion to adjourn is not debatable, adding a quip directed at Marcoleta that pierced like a knife twist: ‘Akala ko ba magaling sa rules?’” they wrote on Threads.
Broadcaster Lynda Jumilla wrote she would have “paid good money” to witness Tito Sotto—a Senate veteran—”school Rodante Marcoleta on the hierarchy of Senate motions.”
I’d have paid good money to witness tito sotto school rodante marcoleta on the hierarchy of senate motions. That “akala ko ba magaling ka sa rules” ended his conceited, pretentious ass.
I was, as they say, wig-snatched.
— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) May 27, 2026
Other recognized Sotto’s years serving the chamber. He was first elected senator in 1992, and served consecutive terms several times over nearly four decades.
“Backed up by years of experience..he knows the rules and stood firm by it,” a Threads user commented.
What the rules say
Under the current Senate rules, remote voting is allowed only when the Senate itself is convened through teleconference or other remote means due to force majeure or a national emergency.
On Philstar.com: What Senate rules say about remote voting in plenary
In ordinary nominal voting, the Secretary of the Senate calls the names of senators present, and the vote of a senator absent when called “shall not be counted.” — Camille Diola
