Sotto physically present in the Senate amid pandemic

(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 — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is the only senator who was physically present in the Senate among six senators who scored perfect attendance during the 2nd regular session of the 18th Congress.

The other senators in the list are Senators Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, and Joel Villanueva.

In a statement, Sotto said he took it upon himself to see to it to be physically present in all the sessions as the senate president.

“I have always taken my job as a public servant very seriously. For me, attending the sessions and coming on time for the day’s discussions is a sign of respect, not only to my colleagues but to the Filipino people who expect nothing but the best service from their government leaders,” Sotto said.

Amid the pandemic, Sotto said it is of utmost importance to maintain an orderly and working Senate.

The first regular session of the 18th Congress had 67 sessions from July 22, 2019, to June 4, 2020, while the second regular session, covers July 27, 2020, to June 3, 2021, with 69 sessions.

The third regular session, which ran from July 26, 2021, to Aug. 25, 2021, has so far conducted eight sessions.

/MUF