Lawyer, Law Professor, Lover and a Public Servant youtube.com/marktolentinolawblog An experienced litigation and trial attorney.
Professor of De La Salle University Taft Manila, teaching business law
Former State Attorney of the Office of the Solicitor General (Gov't Agency handling annulment of marriage, adoption, land title, change of name, Criminal appeals, etc)
Conferred with a Master of Laws Degree (LLM), Cum Laude by San Beda Graduate School of Law in consortium with the Philippine Judicial Academy of the Supreme Cour
LIVE | Pinoy Legal Minds Kasama sina Kapartner Atty. 'Kuya Mark' Tolentino at MJ Mondejar | June 6, 2026
Topic: Marriage Law
04/06/2026
The case of Avelino v. Cuenco should not be casually misused as authority to claim that twelve senators are always sufficient. That ruling was based on exceptional circumstances, particularly the peculiar situation involving a senator who was outside the country and beyond the Senate’s coercive jurisdiction. It is not a blanket license to reduce the constitutional quorum of the Senate.
04/06/2026
Twenty-four senators require thirteen for quorum.
Without quorum, there is no valid legislative business.
Without constitutional compliance, there is no institutional legitimacy.
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04/06/2026
BASAHIN:
04/06/2026
Quorum is not a matter of political strategy. It is not determined by convenience, party alignment, or momentary advantage. It is a constitutional threshold that gives legitimacy to the official acts of the Senate.
03/06/2026
Because the man who stands by principle may be tested, but he is never truly defeated when his conscience is clear.
Ang taong may
prinsipyo, sinusubok pero hindi basta-basta natatalo.
03/06/2026
BASAHIN SA COMMENT SECTION
03/06/2026
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03/06/2026
LEGAL STATEMENT ON SENATE QUORUM
By: Kuya Mark Tolentino
The Constitution is clear: a majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business. In the case of the Philippine Senate, composed of twenty-four senators, the constitutional majority is thirteen.
Thus, as a general and controlling rule, no ordinary legislative business may validly proceed without at least thirteen senators present. A smaller number may only adjourn from day to day or compel the attendance of absent members, but it cannot substitute convenience for constitutional compliance.
The case of Avelino v. Cuenco should not be casually misused as authority to claim that twelve senators are always sufficient. That ruling was based on exceptional circumstances, particularly the peculiar situation involving a senator who was outside the country and beyond the Senate’s coercive jurisdiction. It is not a blanket license to reduce the constitutional quorum of the Senate.
Quorum is not a matter of political strategy. It is not determined by convenience, party alignment, or momentary advantage. It is a constitutional threshold that gives legitimacy to the official acts of the Senate.
Accordingly, the stronger constitutional position remains:
Twenty-four senators require thirteen for quorum.
Without quorum, there is no valid legislative business.
Without constitutional compliance, there is no institutional legitimacy.