Atty. Mark Tolentino

Atty. Mark Tolentino 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

t. Now, a Doctor of Laws candidate. Captain of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines (AFPRESCOM) and a former City Councilor of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

05/06/2026

LIVE | Pinoy Legal Minds Kasama sina Kapartner Atty. 'Kuya Mark' Tolentino at MJ Mondejar | June 6, 2026

Topic: Marriage Law

The case of Avelino v. Cuenco should not be casually misused as authority to claim that twelve senators are always suffi...
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.

Twenty-four senators require thirteen for quorum.Without quorum, there is no valid legislative business.Without constitu...
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.

04/06/2026

Start your financial planning today: mkgfinancials.net

BASAHIN:
04/06/2026

BASAHIN:

Quorum is not a matter of political strategy. It is not determined by convenience, party alignment, or momentary advanta...
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.

Because the man who stands by principle may be tested, but he is never truly defeated when his conscience is clear.Ang t...
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.

BASAHIN SA COMMENT SECTION
03/06/2026

BASAHIN SA COMMENT SECTION

Huwag mong gamitin ang pera mo para lang i-upgrade ang lifestyle ng ibang tao. 💸Ang lalaking isinasakripisyo ang sarilin...
03/06/2026

Huwag mong gamitin ang pera mo para lang i-upgrade ang lifestyle ng ibang tao. 💸

Ang lalaking isinasakripisyo ang sariling kinabukasan para lang magpa-impress sa iba, kadalasan nauuwi sa pagsisisi.

LEGAL STATEMENT ON SENATE QUORUMBy: Kuya Mark TolentinoThe Constitution is clear: a majority of each House shall constit...
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.

Address

1809 Stiles Enterprise Plaza East Tower, Makati Circuit, Makati City
Makati
1207

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Atty. Mark Tolentino posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category