Sotto bares plan to regulate entry of armed men in Senate premises

The Senate might come up with a memorandum that would regulate the entry of “armed men” in its premises, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday.

Sotto revealed this plan when asked about the continued presence of policemen and soldiers outside the Senate amid the reported impending arrest of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

READ: Escudero, Recto decry military, police presence in Senate

The Senate leader said they have no “arrangement” with the police and the military outside the chamber, but “any armed component of any institution of government” must inform him first, through the Sergeant-at-Arms, before they would be allowed inside the premises.

“As a matter of fact, the Senate Secretary might issue a memorandum to that effect para hindi maabuso yan (that it would not be abused),” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“Kasi for all you know baka mamaya mayroong mga dumating dyan…kunwari ay pulis armado sila, yun pala ay masasamang loob at pinasok tayong bigla dito (Because, you know, there may be instances when armed men may enter the premises who are not really policemen),” he said.

Sotto said the memo would regulate the “flow of armed men” in the Senate premises.

“The entry of armed men in the Senate premises. That will address that,” he further explained.

Sotto clarified, however, that he believes there is nothing wrong with the presence of the police and the military outside the Senate, saying they also have a policeman and a soldier inside the session hall.

He was apparently referring to Senator Panfilo Lacson, former police chief, and Senator Gringo Honasan, a former Army colonel.

“Mga pogi naman (They are handsome),” Sotto said in jest.

On Tuesday, senators agreed in a caucus not to allow the arrest of Trillanes or any senator inside the Senate premises.

It was President Rodrigo Duterte himself, through a proclamation, who ordered the arrest of the senator after he declared as void the amnesty granted to Trillanes by then President Benigno Aquino. /ee