Sotto: Senate remains on lockdown this week

The Senate will remain on lockdown this week amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday.

Sotto told GMA News Online that the Senate session will resume later in the day, but those who will be present are only him and a few persons only.

"Overall lockdown in all offices," he added.

In a separate text message shared with reporters, Sotto said he and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri will be present in the plenary later, along with two personnel from the Office of the Senate Secretary and the Sergeant at Arms.

He added that they will just pass a few franchise bills which the Senate promised the House of Representatives to pass on second reading.

When asked until when the lockdown will be implemented, Sotto told GMA News Online that they will make an assessment on the matter this weekend.

There was no plenary session in the Senate on Tuesday after Sotto placed the chamber on "complete lockdown."

This was after members of the bills and index office, which is essential in the matters being deliberated in the plenary, are under quarantine.

Sotto also said the sessions would be shortened to until 6 p.m. to allow Senate employees to avoid the curfew imposed in Metro Manila amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, the Philippines reported 4,437 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 631,320.

The DOH said this pushed the total active cases in the country to 57,736, this year’s highest. — RSJ, GMA News