In all fairness, they only missed the orientation, but we’re hoping that this isn’t an indication of how the rest of their terms in the Senate will go.
Senators-elect Leila de Lima and Manny Pacquiao did not show up in the orientation at the Senate on Monday, Jun 27. It was meant to brief new senators on the do’s and don’ts of their work.
The reason? Schedule conflicts. Both de Lima and Pacquiao sent their respective staffs to the briefing instead.
Earlier, Pacquiao promised to erase his tag as one of the members of Congress who missed the most sessions.
Meanwhile, De Lima said that she was already given a one-on-one briefing by a Senate official.
“Present were Senators-elect Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva, who all have experience in lawmaking as former members of the House of Representatives,” Inquirer reports.
Villanueva described the orientation as “helpful and informative”. Hontiveros and Gatchalian agreed.
The five neophyte senators, along with seven re-elected senators, officially assume office on Thu, Jun 30.
The re-elected senators include incumbent Senate President Franklin Drilon, Deputy Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and former Senators Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.
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