Minority senators absent during shake-up, some attend CA

MANILA, Philippines — No minority senators were present during the first half of the Senate’s special session on Wednesday.

But some of its members attended the Commission on Appointments (CA) session held during the plenary’s suspension.

Minority Sens. Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Loren Legarda, and Christopher “Bong” Go entered the session hall with no explanation for their earlier absence.

During the afternoon continuation of the special session, Marcos, Legarda and Go were joined by Sens. Pia Cayetano and Camille Villar in attending the plenary.

As of writing, Marcoleta has not entered the session hall to join his colleagues in the minority.

On Tuesday, Sen. Mark Villar’s personnel said he is on a personal trip abroad, while Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla have yet to explain their absence.

READ: Gatchalian is new Senate president

The new minority is down to 11 senators, though Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is under preventive suspension and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is in hiding from an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

This comes after Sen. Joel Villanueva aligned with the majority bloc, which elected Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president. /mcm /das