MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros has firmly pushed back against Senator Robin Padilla’s claim that extreme global events could justify senators attending sessions of the upper chamber online.
Padilla recently took to social media to defend his interpretation of “force majeure,” saying that major disruptions such as war in the Middle East, terrorism threats, rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and severe El Niño conditions could be considered valid reasons for remote participation in Senate sessions.
For Padilla, such situations may fall under extraordinary circumstances that allow lawmakers to join proceedings virtually.
Hontiveros, however, disagreed with the broad interpretation and rejected the idea that these conditions automatically qualify as grounds for online attendance in Senate deliberations.
The exchange adds to the continuing debate over whether remote participation should be expanded or limited within the Senate.
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