Senate records show 12-member quorum precedent

MANILA – Official Senate journals from 2008 to 2020 show that the chamber has repeatedly recognized a 12-member quorum in conducting official business under certain membership and attendance circumstances, Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

Gatchalian said the records support the validity of the June 3 session, where 12 senators were present, noting that the Senate’s own documented history shows that such quorum declarations were not new.

“Hindi natin pwedeng baguhin ang kasaysayan. Ang Senate records mismo ang nagpapatunay na hindi na bago ang nangyaring sesyon noong June 3 at ito ay lehitimo (We cannot change history. The Senate records themselves prove that what happened on June 3 was not new and was legitimate),” Gatchalian said.

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Citing Senate journals, Gatchalian said a quorum was declared on May 21, 2008 and Feb. 11, 2009 with 12 senators present out of 23 members after Senator Alfredo Lim resigned following his election as Manila mayor in 2007.

During those sessions, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was under detention and unable to attend.

Gatchalian said the Senate again declared a quorum on Sept. 29, 2010 with 12 senators present out of 23 members, following the resignation of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III after he was elected president.

He said similar quorum declarations were made on May 8 and 15, 2012, when the Senate conducted official business with 12 senators present out of 23 members, while some senators were on sick leave, official missions, or arrived after the roll call.

Gatchalian also cited the May 5, 2015 session, when the Senate adjusted its quorum base to 17 because four senators were abroad, while Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada were in detention.

With 12 members present, the presiding officer declared a quorum.

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He said the same situation occurred on June 2, 2015, when a quorum was declared with 12 senators present as some members were detained, on official missions, on extended medical leave, or arrived after the roll call.

Gatchalian said the Senate also declared a quorum on May 23, 2020 with 12 senators present, when Senator Leila de Lima was under detention, and others were unable to physically attend the session.

He said these records show that the Senate has previously recognized the validity of a 12-member quorum when the effective membership or attendance base was affected by resignation, detention, official travel, medical leave, or other circumstances.

Gatchalian said the June 3 proceedings should therefore be viewed in light of the Senate’s own institutional practice and documented precedents. (PNA)

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