Perfect attendance for 5 senators

MANILA, Philippines - Five senator-judges recorded a perfect attendance for the entire 43 days of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, as presiding officer of the impeachment court, never missed a single day of the trial and was never late.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senators Franklin Drilon, Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson also had perfect attendance.

All were present at the impeachment trial from Day One and all of them arrived on time for the roll call, according to data gathered from the government website www.gov.ph.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Manuel Lapid placed second with a lone tardy record.

Meanwhile, other senator-judges who had perfect attendance but came in late were senators Joker Arroyo (10 times tardy), Pia Cayetano (9) and Francis Pangilinan (3).

On the other hand, the senators who had the most number of tardiness or arrived after the roll call were Manny Villar (20), Antonio Trillanes IV (18), Sergio Osmeña III (17) and Alan Peter Cayetano (14).

Top absentees include senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago (13), Loren Legarda (6), and Teofisto Guingona III and Sergio Osmeña III with five absences each.

Santiago filed 10 days’ sick leave due to hypertension while Legarda went to the United States during the first few weeks of the trial to take care of her sick nanny (yaya).

In the wrap up of oral arguments yesterday (Day 43), all 23 senator-judges were present. Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., however, came after the roll call.

The impeachment trial started Jan. 16 and ends today.