Congress opens for Third Regular Session, Sona

House of Representatives INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Congress opened its third and last regular session on Monday ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s state of the nation address.

The respective sessions of the Senate and the House of Representatives opened at 10 am.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who was reportedly to be replaced by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, presided over the session at the House, while Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III presided over the session in the Senate, his first as Senate President since he assumed the post in May.

Sotto replaced then-Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who resigned the post after 15 of 23 senators signed a resolution electing Sotto as the new Senate leader.

READ: Pimentel bows out; Sotto is new Senate president

The Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law before transmitting it to President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.

The two chambers are also expected to approve a resolution calling for a joint session later in the afternoon to listen to President Rodrigo Duterte’s state of the nation address. /cbb