14 senators go abroad

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the global threat of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, 14 senators have left for abroad, taking the opportunity to go on vacation or attend official functions during the congressional break.

Among the vacationing lawmakers, Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid is going to spend the entire one and a half months in the US.

Senate sources revealed Lapid, who has not been very active in the Senate sessions, left for the US last Friday, the very day that Congress went on sine die adjournment.

Lapid would be returning on July 26, two days before Congress resumes session on July 28.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon is also leaving for the United Kingdom on July 4 to return on July 12.

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero and Richard Gordon would also fly to the US.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is going on a tour of five countries. He is scheduled to go to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, France, and Greece from June 8 to June 12.

Estrada also filed a travel authority before the Senate’s Office of International Relations and Protocol for a trip to the United Kingdom from July 4 to 12.

For his part, Sen. Panfilo Lacson is on a trip to the United Kingdom from July 1 to 12, along with fellow Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

Honasan is also going to Paris and Hong Kong from July 4 to 19.

From June 13 to July 4, Sen. Loren Legarda would be flying to Geneva, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany while Sen. Jamby Madrigal is going to India from June 12 to 20.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan left for Canada last June 5. His travel authority is until June 18.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is scheduled to join the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Switzerland on June 24.  

Pimentel said he is returning on July 23.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. is in the US from June 5 to 11 while Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri is leaving for the US on June 10 until July 3. Zubiri is also flying to the UK between July 4 to 12.