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New Senate rule makes resignations irrevocable


Following the resignation of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday, senators in the 15th Congress have agreed on a new rule that would make the resignation of any member of the chamber irrevocable. "From now on anyone who resigns sa Senate walang bawian (can no longer take it back)," Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said during a weekly forum on Thursday. He said old Senate rules require them to vote on whether on not to accept a senator’s resignation. However, he said they agreed to amend the rule at a caucus called on Wednesday right after Zubiri announced his resignation in a privilege speech. Cayetano said they did not want to vote against accepting Zubiri's resignation as it may affect the public's perception of the Senate and of Zubiri. "We do not want his unselfish act to be tainted because senators refuse to accept the resignation," he said. So from now on, Cayetano said, whenever a senator manifests his or her intention to resign on the floor or on paper, they would just let it be. "We should not even vote or we should not even take it upon ourselves whether we should accept or not accept a resignation, we should just take it at face value," he said. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

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