Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senate President Franklin Drilon said proposed changes to Senate rules allowing remote voting could be challenged before the Supreme Court if deemed a “grave abuse of discretion.”
In an interview on The Newsmaker, Drilon warned that attempts to amend voting rules under current political circumstances may be legally questionable.
“To amend the rules in this manner, to defeat the objective of impeachment to exact accountability, could be a grave abuse of discretion which can be questioned in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Drilon said the issue becomes critical given the fragile balance in the Senate, where voting outcomes could affect key decisions, including potential subpoenas and impeachment-related actions.
He cautioned that using majority power to influence outcomes or shield certain individuals could undermine the purpose of the law.
“You cannot use it to defeat the purpose of the law or to hide the truth from the public,” he said.
The former Senate chief also flagged concerns over the timing of the proposed rule change, noting that it comes amid legal troubles involving some senators and the looming impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Drilon said any move that appears to manipulate institutional rules for political ends could ultimately be subject to judicial review.
