‘Siege mentality now prevailing in Senate’

A siege mentality is now prevailing in the Senate with the presence of two K-9s conspicuously moving around the Senate building sniffing packages for bombs and explosive materials.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and retired Gen. Leonardo Lopez, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, said they decided to institute stricter security measures in the chamber to ensure the safety of everyone.

"I asked for stricter security measures, but how they do it is up to the security people," Drilon said on the presence of K-9s in the Senate.

Lopez said that the deployment of K-9s is just a precautionary measure and not at all indicative of a serious security threat to senators, their staff and other Senate employees.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan III, however, questioned the soundness of deploying the K-9s, held on leashes by uniformed military men.

He said that he does not relish the sight of dogs hovering near the session hall, at the entrance of the building, and other parts of the building sniffing for bombs and explosive materials.

"Is the Senate under siege? First, the problem of drugs, now bombs and explosives!" he said.

He was referring to the discovery of shabu and marijuana last Monday at the Senate gallery seat reserved for the staff of Sen. Ralph Recto. That incident is now under investigation.

Honasan said that if ever K-9s are to be deployed in the Senate, it should be done subtly, and while there are no people yet at the session hall or elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Senator Recto tested negative for drugs yesterday at the Makati Medical Center with Dr. Miguel Fores as attending physician.

Recto volunteered to undergo the drug test after the discovery of the illegal drugs in the Senate gallery. He is the first senator to undergo testing. Senators Robert Barbers and Loren Legarda have also volunteered to undergo tests.

He asked all members of his staff to undergo the same tests.

"Anyone found positive for illegal drug use would automatically be fired, while those who will not volunteer for drug-testing are encouraged to tender their courtesy resignation," Recto announced.

He said that this voluntary drug-testing is intended to clear himself and members of his staff.

"It is in no way an imposition on the other senators or their staff," Recto stressed.

His staffers went to the Senate clinic yesterday afternoon but they were not tested because the clinic did not have the required laboratory equipment for drug testing. – Efren Danao