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Sen. Risa Hontiveros during a Senate plenary session on May 27, 2026.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, May 27, drew a sharp line between legitimate remote work and evading the law, asserting that senators must physically show up and do their jobs rather than using videoconferencing to bypass legal authorities.
Hontiveros made the statement following a push by the Senate majority, through Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, to allow virtual attendance in sessions and committee hearings.
“Then and now, there should be respect for legal authority. The Senate should not pave the way for a member to continue to vote, influence policies and receive institutional benefits of office — despite refusing to submit to lawful arrest or judicial authority,” Hontiveros said.
“To whom much power is given, much responsibility is expected. Kaming mga senador ay dapat pumasok, humarap sa publiko at magtrabaho,” she added.
According to Hontiveros, the Senate used videoconferencing only during the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other institutions.
She pointed out that under Senate rules, virtual attendance is only permitted during instances of force majeure or a national emergency, neither of which applies today since there is no longer a pandemic.
Hontiveros also rejected comparisons being made between the current Senate majority’s push for videoconferencing and the 2021 appeals to let then-detained former senator Leila de Lima participate in sessions remotely.
“Pangalawa at mas importante, si Senator Leila noon ay sumuko, na-detain at rumespeto sa proseso ng batas,” Hontiveros said.
(Second and more importantly, Senator Leila surrendered, was detained, and respected the legal process.)
A Muntinlupa court denied De Lima's request in June 2020, ruling that her detention did not qualify as force majeure or a national emergency covered under the Senate’s teleconferencing rules.
On May 26, Marcoleta filed a motion before the plenary seeking to allow lawmakers to vote through teleconferencing.
This was opposed by minority senators such as Hontiveros and former journalist Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who raised concerns over accommodating lawmakers who may be arrested due to possible charges.
This also came after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will be filing plunder and malversation charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and possible plunder charges against Sen. Joel Villanueva.
Tulfo, in a DZMM interview, also alleged that the majority bloc also wanted to accommodate Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who is being sought by authorities due to an International Criminal Court warrant.
