Filtered By: Topstories
News

Lacson, Miriam among senators with most absences


Senator Panfilo Lacson incurred the most number of absences during the first regular session of the 15th Congress, data from the Senate Journal Service revealed. According to data culled from the Senate Journal Service, Lacson was absent 79 times out of the 94 session days during the first regular session of the 15th Congress. Lacson was in hiding for more than a year to evade what he said was a campaign of "political persecution" being mounted against him by the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of which he was a staunch critic. He returned to the country last March after the Court of Appeals ordered with finality the nullification of the arrest warrants against him, as well as of the charges lodged against him for his alleged involvement in the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Following Lacson with the most number of absences was Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who did not attend 56 session days — 50 of which were filed as sick leaves. Santiago had earlier gone on several sick leaves, citing complications from hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome or arrhythmia (abnormal heart rate and rhythm). Aside from Lacson and Santiago, the only other senator who registered double-digit absences was Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was not able to attend 49 session days. Trillanes, a former Navy officer who was detained since July 2003 after participating in a failed attempt to topple the Arroyo administration, tasted freedom last January after the Makati Regional Trial Court granted him provisional liberty. Trillanes is the first Philippine senator to be elected while detained. Despite having been elected in 2007, he was able to attend his very first Senate session on Jan. 17, 2011. On the other hand, only Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri (late four times) and Sergio Osmena (late 34 times) were able to attend all 94 session days of the Senate's first regular session. Senators Gregorio Honasan, Joker Arroyo, and Franklin Drilon also did not register absences but only because they were sometimes on official missions. Senator Teofisto Guingona III, meanwhile, was late 42 times during the first regular session. Legislative work Despite being among the senators with the most number of absences, Santiago topped the senators who filed the most number of legislation in the Senate. Santiago said she “worked my ass off" in filing bills because she wants to get the message across that the main task of the Senate is legislation and not criminal investigation. Among the controversial measures filed by Santiago in the 15th Congress is the Senate’s version of the Reproductive Health bill, Senate Bill 2378 or “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development." The Senate was able to pass four of the 23 priority bills of the Aquino administration before Congress adjourned session last June. Out of the 2,871 bills filed at the Senate as of June, the chamber was able to approve at least 14 bills on third and final reading, four of which were among the 23 priority bills presented by President Benigno Aquino III during the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council last February. Regular sessions will resume next July 25, when Aquino will deliver his second State of the Nation Address. — VS/GMA News

LOADING CONTENT