MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and majority leader Vicente Sotto III recorded perfect attendance during the first regular session of the 15th Congress, attending 94 session days with no tardiness or absences.
Records culled from the Senate’s official journal revealed that Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV, who were in hiding and detained respectively last year, had the most number of absences.
The 15th Congress opened session on July 26, 2010. The first regular session ended last June 9.
Congress is now in sine die adjournment until July 25, when President Aquino gives his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sergio Osmeña were also present for 94 days. Osmeña arrived after the roll call or was late 34 times. Zubiri came late four times.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was present 93 times, went “on official mission” twice and “on sick leave” once.
Also included in the top attendance list are: Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto (92); Gregorio Honasan and Francis Escudero (91); Franklin Drilon (90); Bong Revilla (85); Pia Cayetano and TG Guingona (84); Loren Legarda (81); Francis Pangilinan (79); Edgardo Angara (78); Ferdinand Marcos (76); Lito Lapid (75); Alan Cayetano (68) and Manuel Villar (62).
Guingona emerged as the most tardy while Villar, Osmeña, Recto, and Pangilinan also arrived late many times.
Villar and Alan Cayetano recorded the most number of official missions, meaning they were excused from attending session.
Out of the 94 session days, Lacson was absent for 79 days since he went into hiding for almost a year as a warrant of arrest was issued against him in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.
Lacson was able to report back to Senate duty for 14 days after he resurfaced last March. He arrived late once and recorded just one official mission.
Records showed that Trillanes was “detained” for 49 days since he was released from Camp Crame only on Jan. 17, 2011 after a Makati court granted him temporary liberty amid charges that he participated in the failed coup against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003.
He had 42 days in attendance, 12 of which he came in late.
Santiago recorded 56 absences, 50 days of which were marked “sick leave.”
Santiago asked the Senate leadership through a letter for an extended sick leave due to hypothyroidism and chronic fatigue syndrome. She had attended 33 sessions and arrived after the roll call once. She recorded five official missions here and abroad.
Villar, meantime, was present for 62 sessions but he arrived after the roll call 35 times. He was absent for two sessions and had 30 recorded “official missions.”
Alan Cayetano’s records showed he was either on official mission or official business for 23 times but he was physically present at the session hall for 68 days. He was late 19 times.
Estrada was happy after learning that he maintained his record of perfect and punctual attendance for the first regular session of the 15th Congress, as he did in previous years.
Estrada said he makes it a point not to be absent during session days and used non-session days to attend to his other commitments as a senator.
“I personally would not want to be absent from the plenary sessions of the Senate. As much as possible, I do not make any commitments like speaking engagements, out-of-town trips, etc. while our session is ongoing. It is my duty, as a duly-elected senator, to be present during session days and participate in legislative deliberations,” Estrada said.
Estrada also presides over plenary discussions whenever the Senate President is busy carrying out his other official duties as the leader of the chamber.
The records were based on the approved journals readily accessible through the Senate official website (www.senate.gov.ph<http://www.senate.gov.ph/> ).
The senators’ presence is important during session, especially when the lawmakers are about to vote for the passage of a bill.