Perfect attendance for 10 senators in 2nd regular session of 18th Congress

(FILE) Senate President and Commission on Appointments (CA) chairman Vicente C. Sotto III bangs the gavel as he presides over the hybrid plenary session of the CA on the confirmation of the nominations and ad interim appointments of 20 foreign service officials and 40 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Wednesday, September 1, 2020. All the nominees and appointees were confirmed by the commission during the session. (Alex Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Ten senators had perfect attendance and were on time during plenary sessions in the second regular session of the 18th Congress.

According to Senate records, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Nancy Binay, Bong Go, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar were on time in all 69 plenary sessions from July 17, 2020 to June 3, 2021.

While nine other senators attended all 69 sessions, there were instances when they were not able to respond to the roll call.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon responded to the 68 roll calls. He was on an official mission once but later attended the session after the roll call.

Senator Imee Marcos also responded to the roll call 68 times and appeared online after the roll call once.

With the pandemic, the Senate allowed the conduct of “hybrid” plenary sessions, with some senators physically present and others opting to attend through video conference.

For Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., he was on time for 67 sessions and arrived or appeared online after the roll call twice.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was also on time for 67 sessions and arrived or appeared online after the roll call for two instances.

Both Senator Risa Hontiveros and Grace Poe responded to 66 roll calls and arrived or appeared online after the roll call thrice.

Senator Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, responded to the roll call 64 times and arrived or appeared online four times.

She was on an official mission once but arrived to participate in the session after the roll call.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III responded to 58 roll calls and arrived or appeared online after the roll call 11 times.

Absences

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was on sick leave four times but attended 65 sessions and was able to respond to the roll call for all of them.

It can be recalled that Dela Rosa tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senator Francis Pangilinan both had two absences.

Recto was on time for 65 sessions and arrived online after the roll call twice.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, responded to 63 roll calls and appeared online after the roll call for four instances.

Senator Richard Gordon, for his part, responded to 64 roll calls and arrived online after the roll call thrice.

He was on an official mission once but later on, attended the session. Gordon was not able to attend one session due to another official mission.

Senator Leila de Lima was recorded absent for all 69 sessions. She has been detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City on drug-related charges since 2017.

/MUF