Manila, Philippines – Re-elected Sen. Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III has a perfect attendance in the Senate during the 16th Congress that ended recently.
Senate records showed that Sotto was present in 214 plenary sessions in the past three years. He also had a perfect attendance during the 15th Congress when he was the majority leader.
Senate President Franklin M. Drilon was second to the actor-politician. Drilon was present in all plenary sessions during the last three years or since the time he assumed the post in 2013.
Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” B. Honasan II, a losing vice presidential bet last month, had a near perfect attendance, having been marked absent and late once in all 214 plenary sessions in the past three years.
On the other hand, Sen. Teofisto “TG” L. Guingona III, who lost in his reelection bid, was absent nearly half of the 16th Congress, having been present in only 110 session days and was late 15 times.
Guingona is also the most traveled, having been on official mission 78 times.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who is aspiring to become the next Senate President, meanwhile, managed to attend only 137 session days. Cayetano also failed to complete his attendance during the 15th Congress when he was minority leader.
Based on records, Cayetano was on “official mission,” meaning either out of town or out of the country, 67 times.
Next to Cayetano is Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., who managed to attend 146 out of 214 sessions at the Senate. He was marked on official mission 56 times.
Cayetano and Marcos ran for vice president and lost in the recent elections.
Senators who topped the list of arriving after the “roll call” were Serge Osmeña and Antonio F. Trillanes IV and are usually marked on official mission.
Also in the list of “most traveled” senators were Pia Cayetano, Trillanes, and Cynthia Villar with 33 recorded official missions.
Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada and Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla Jr. failed to attend Senate sessions when they were practically detained for most of the 16th Congress due to the “pork barrel” fund scam.
They were only present during the first regular session or from July 22, 2013 to June 11, 2014 and in the recorded 83 session days, Estrada had near perfect attendance, having been absent only once.
Enrile was present 72 times but his absences were due to sickness while Revilla was present 71 days.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who has been battling lung cancer for two years now, was able to attend only five session days since 2013. Miriam still managed to attend to her commitments outside of the Senate, meaning, on official missions, 17 times. (Hannah L. Torregoza)