Thank you so much for bringing up SP Cayetano's clarification on what the Dividing The House mean
But, it actually weakens the Majority's case
Let's study what happened:
1. “May 11 pa na-present” said by Sen. Marcoleta. But that's not the full story
Yes, Marcoleta raised the motion on May 11.
But Lacson rebutted the May 11 records showed the matter was referred to the Committee on Rules, and Cayetano confirmed that during interpellation.
That matters because once referred, the committee process should apply (Senate PH Rule XI, Section 24)
2. Lacson’s point: Rule 136 does not erase the committee referral.
Cayetano relied on Senate PH Rule LI, Section 136 to combat Rule XI, Section 24, which allows amendment of Senate Rules by motion if presented one day before consideration.
But Lacson’s answer was - that applies if there was no referral.
Since the motion was already presented AND was already referred to Rules Committee, Rule XI and Section 24 should supercede Rule LI Section 136
quoting:
"(that was referred)... committees must meet, discuss, decide, and submit a report."
3. The Committee on Rules was not properly functioning - because of the removal of Senate President Sotto.
Lacson said all posts had been declared vacant after the May 11 leadership change.
So there was no chairman or members of the Committee on Rules. But the matter was already referred
(ie: Napunta na yung motion sa Committee on Rules, pero dahil wala pang chairmanship or hindi pa na-constitute ang bagong committee, hindi pa siya naasikaso)
Lacson's question was simple: how can the Committee On Rules act if it had not even been constituted?
4. Sotto backed the process argument.
Sotto reportedly said the Committee on Rules should first be constituted before the motion is discussed.
He also objected as an ex officio member, asking in Taglish: “Tumawag ba? Ano ’to binabraso?”
In other words, even the Minority Leader was saying the process looked like strong-arming or bulldozing the process by skipping the Committee on Rules.
5. The Motion to divide the house curtails Rule XI, Section 24
Tama ka! Hindi automatically mali ang “motion to divide the House.”
Ang mali ay ginamit ito to force plenary action on a controversial Senate Rules amendment while the proposal had already been referred to the Committee on Rules
Wala pang malinaw na committee action or report from the very Committee. That's why the process seemed suspiciously being railroaded.
6. So why was it railroading for Cayetano to start to Divide The House and debate.
Because if that motion passed, the Senate would effectively move straight to plenary action while skipping the Committee on Rules step.
And that step matters.
Doon dapat dini-discuss ang pros, cons, safeguards, loopholes, quorum, voting, and consequences of changing the Senate Rules.
Pero hindi pa iyon nagagawa.
No proper committee meeting.
No decision.
No report.
So hindi ito simpleng “procedural vote lang.”
Once the Senate agrees to take it up in plenary, the Majority can move quickly - sponsorship, interpellation, amendments, then adoption and within the session.
Simple majority votes lang ang kailangan.
So basically, if the division of the House passed, the Senate would be acting as if: “Tapos na ang Committee on Rules. Decision time na.”
But that was exactly the deliberation.
Hindi pa tapos ang proseso - yan ang ungol ng Minority
7. If the Dividing The House motion passed, the Majority is basically saying, "tapos na ang Committee on Rules", decision time na.
“Tapos na ang Committee on Rules. Decision time na.”
But that was exactly the problem.
The Committee on Rules was not properly constituted. No proper committee deliberation had happened. No report had been submitted.
So when Cayetano says he only wanted to bring it back to plenary “to deliberate,” that sounds reasonable but it misses the point or even hiding an uglier motive.
Plenary deliberation will replace Committee on Rules deliberation.
So bringing it straight to plenary was not just “for deliberation.” It was a shortcut hidden as a "discuss na natin dito"
They wanted to skip the Committee on Rules process because they had the numbers.
So the Minority walked out because they refused to legitimize a shortcut.
"For Deliberation" sabi ni Cayetano shall not be used as an excuse to avoid deliberation on Committee on Rules, yan ang reply ng Minority
WHICH IS SUMMARIZED IN:
You cannot ask to change the Rules of the Senate while ignoring the Rules of the Senate.
That is not procedure.
That is railroading dressed up as procedure.
Cayetano is saying "procedure 'to" BUT intentionally skipping ACTUAL PROCEDURE
MINORITY MASTERFULLY DELIVERED A BIG WIN AGAINST THE MAJORITY.
Bakit? Heto po:
1. They stopped the voting of a Senate Rule change proposal na sisira sa maraming pillars ng Senate.
2. Stopping that rule change in crucial in not opening the doors to even worse moves by Senate 1/
wala akong problema sa religion niya pero nagpipintig talaga tenga ko pag naririnig ko si APC na nagbibring up ng bible verses or ng prayer keme keme kingina
“I will not arrest Senator Bato just to be clear. I will not arrest him. I am not here to arrest him.”
Jonvic Remulla never beating the “incompetent” allegations 💀
FIRST ON ABS-CBN NEWS: Narito ang ilang eksena na kuha ni ABS-CBN News reporter Zyann Ambrosio kasama ang NBI sa area ng GSIS, gabi ng May 13.
Abangan ang buong ulat sa TV Patrol ngayong Huwebes, Mayo 14, 2026.
You DO NOT NEGOTIATE an arrest. Bato is a fugitive. So it's either he surrenders or be arrested.
The Remullas are incompetent. Boying Remulla tattled that ICC had a warrant on Bato that forced him into hiding.
Today, Jonvic met face to face and he did not arrest him.
freaking ironic na galit na galit si robin nung nasigawan sya ni senator kiko, pero kaninang may nagpapaputok ng baril sa senado, kalmado lang sya, nag-thumbs up pa, at mukhang masaya pa. WHAT A CLOWN. 🤡
Sinong pinagloloko nyo?!!!
Yan ba mga mukha ng may totoong may active shooter sa loob ng Senate building? Todo naka-smile ano? 😊
Script nyo bulok!! 🤮🤮🤮
Common sense lang naman. Kung totoong may barilan, nag evacuate na o kaya nagtago na sa isang safe area.
One thing is clear tonight: the Duterte-allied Senate bloc is willing to plunge the institution into chaos and to weaponise fear, all to shield one of their own from accountability.