Senate holds caucus with Cabinet execs

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is holding a caucus  with Cabinet officials minutes after it opened a special session on a measure that would declare a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic and grant the President more powers to address the outbreak currently gripping the country.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is presiding over the session, called for a caucus with other members of the Senate as well as three Cabinet secretaries present.

“In as such that we need to wait for two more colleagues before we pass the resolution, ministerial resolutions, informing Congress that we now have a quorum and are convening, may we now call a caucus in the Senator’s lounge,” Sotto said.

He then invited Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista to join them.

Those present for the session are Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Pia Cayetano, Christopher “Bong” Go, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao,  Grace Poe, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.