Despite quarantine, Senate resumes session

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate resumed its regular session on Monday despite the enhanced community quarantine imposed on Metro Manila in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Before the Senate opened its session, Senate President Vicente Sotto III called for a caucus at around 2 p.m.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier warned that pushing through with the holding of the May 4 session in the “customary manner,” or with senators physically present, would violate government-imposed quarantine protocols.

“The 4 May session should be held through teleconference, videoconference, or other electronic means. The convening and conduct of the May 4 session in a customary manner is a high risk,” Drilon said in a statement last week.

However, Sotto said the extended quarantine in Metro Manila would not affect the scheduled resumption of the regular session of Congress.

Under Senate rules, a quorum can only be declared if at least 12 senators are present in the plenary hall. A quorum is needed before senators can open discussions on the floor.

But a resolution seeking to amend the Senate rules to allow official proceedings through teleconferencing is expected to be adopted by the majority of the senators physically present in Monday’s session.

Fifteen senators are physically present, namely: Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Francis Tolentino, Grace Poe, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, and Richard Gordon.

Meanwhile, Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Risa Hontiveros, Cynthia Villar, and Sonny Angara are on standby online while they wait for the adoption of the resolution that would allow them to participate in the plenary session through teleconferencing.

A resolution expressing condolences to the family of the former Senator Heherson Alvarez, who died of COVID-19 last April 20, is also expected to be adopted.

Metro Manila and other “high risk” areas remain under an enhanced community quarantine until May 15 while a general community quarantine has been imposed on moderate to low risk provinces since May 1.

To date, Philippine health officials have confirmed 9,223 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 1,214 have recovered while 607 have died.