LOOK: SP Sotto inspects fire-hit Senate building

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday personally inspected the areas in the Senate that were affected by the fire that broke out on the third floor of the building on Sunday.

Based on the videos shared by Office of the Senate President (OSP), Sotto was particularly seen examining the session hall on the second floor where repairs are being made after water reportedly leaked from the ceiling. 

The OSP said Sotto instructed the Senate maintenance team to continue the cleanup and restoration work in the session hall “to ensure that the plenary can be fully prepared in time for the session tomorrow.”

The fire that broke out in the Senate building on Sunday morning reportedly started at a commercial area on the third floor. It was put out after two hours after reaching the second alarm.

Sotto has assured that important documents, including those of the Blue Ribbon Committee “remain intact, safe, and completely unaffected by the fire.”  

The Senate suspended session on Monday despite the ongoing tackling of the proposed 2026 national budget to allow the cleanup works following the fire. 

According to an advisory issued by Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., the Senate’s plenary session shall be called to order at Tuesday, 1 p.m. as instructed by Sotto. 

“In lieu of the Pasay Day holiday on December 2, Senate workforce shall operate on a need basis. Only employees directly involved in the budget hearing will be required or permitted to report for work,” the OSP said in a statement. —RF, GMA Integrated News