Manila, May 29 -- Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday maintained that a dispute over Senate procedures - not the minority bloc's walkout - was at the heart of the May 26 plenary standoff over a proposal allowing senators to participate remotely in sessions.

Lacson disputed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's characterization that the minority had "scampered out" of the session hall, arguing instead that the majority bloc departed from established Senate rules when it sought to immediately vote on a motion filed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

"'The minority group scampered out of the session hall,' Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said. 'No, Mr. Senate President, we quietly walked out because you scampered out of our rules and wanted to di...