President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., formerly a senator himself, voiced his opposition to a proposed amendment allowing online voting in the Philippine Senate.

Speaking during a press briefing in Tokyo on May 29, 2026, Marcos emphasized that while remote voting was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic for health reasons, there is no current justification to continue it.

He specifically noted that the amendment appears to benefit only Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has been in hiding due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant related to allegations from the Duterte administration's drug war.

Marcos stated that individuals facing serious legal charges should not participate in votes unless they are physically present in the Senate chamber, citing the Senate's long-standing tradition that voting requires physical attendance.Dela Rosa had briefly returned to the Senate in May 2026 to support a leadership change but later fled after a shooting incident in the chamber.

The controversy prompted members of the Senate minority bloc to walk out, criticizing the majority for allegedly trying to fast-track the amendment under questionable circumstances.The issue highlights tensions within the Senate regarding rules, accountability, and the balance between tradition and modern legislative procedures.