3 senators post perfect attendance in 14th Congress

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Gregorio Honasan recorded perfect attendance in the third regular session of the 14th Congress.

The Senate Journal showed that Estrada, Zubiri, and Honasan were present at all the 43 session days without once being tardy from July 27, 2009 to Jan. 26 this year, prior to the campaign period.

Senate secretary Emma Lirio-Reyes starts the roll call after the Senate president has called the session to order, and after the body has said its prayer.   

Senators who arrive after the roll call are considered late.

The statistics, still unofficial, do not include the session days from May 31 to June 4 this year when Congress reopened to canvass the votes for president and vice president.

The Senate Journal was “missing” and was not uploaded to the Senate website for two session days.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ranked fourth with one late, and one day on official mission, followed by Sen. Joker Arroyo who was tardy four times, and absent once.

Senators Panfilo Lacson was present on 34 days, Miriam Defensor Santiago 32 days, followed by Senate Majority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and president-elect Sen. Benigno Aquino III with 30 days present each.

Senators Francis Escudero and Bong Revilla  Jr. were present on 29 session days.

Escudero was late on 11 occasions, absent only once with one session day on official mission, while Revilla was tardy 10 times with two days each on official mission and official business.

Aquino had seven days late with one absence, three on official mission.

Santiago, Pimentel, and Lacson were never late. 

Lacson recorded four absences and seven days on official mission while Santiago was absent due to sickness thrice, with five days on official mission. Pimentel had incurred four absences, with five days on official mission and one day on official business.

Senators Edgardo Angara, Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid were present on 27 days, followed by Sen. Loren Legarda who was present on 25 session days, Senators Francis Pangilinan and Mar Roxas were tied at 23; Richard Gordon, 20; Jamby Madrigal, 18; Rodolfo Biazon, 15; Alan Cayetano, 12; and Sen. Manuel Villar, 3.

Angara had one absence, nine days tardy with six days recorded as official mission with a day on official business. 

Pia Cayetano was also absent only once, tardy for three days, with eight days on official mission and three days on official business.

Legarda was absent only once, late six times, seven days on official mission and one day on official business.

Alan Cayetano and Madrigal were both late 15 times, followed by Pangilinan with 14 days tardy. Cayetano was absent four times while Madrigal was not present twice. Madrigal said she was on official mission six times.

Pangilinan had four days listed on official mission, with two days as official business.