The Senator in the News
From Inq7.net:
10 Senators Won’t Be at SONA
By Veronica Uy
Posted date: July 24, 2006
TEN senators, including former Senate president Franklin Drilon, will not attend the joint session of Congress where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will deliver her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Aside from Drilon, the others who will not be at the SONA are Senators Joker Arroyo, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Panfilo Lacson, Luisa Ejercito Estrada, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Alfredo Lim, Sergio Osmeña III, Ana Consuelo Madrigal, and Edgardo Angara.
Osmeña and Angara were also absent at the changing of the guard at the Senate Monday morning, when Drilon handed over the presidency of the chamber to Senator Manuel Villar.
Asked why he was not attending the SONA, Drilon, laughing, said: “Because it’s raining.”
Although aligned with the administration, Arroyo usually does not attend SONAs.
The opposition in the Senate also traditionally shies away from the SONA. Oppositionist Madrigal said she did “not want to listen to the same pack of lies.”
Aside from Villar, those who indicated they will be present at the SONA are Senators Juan Flavier, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Ralph Recto, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Manuel Roxas II, Rodolfo Biazon, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce-Enrile, and Richard Gordon.
At the first Senate session on Monday morning, the Upper Chamber also passed a resolution for SONA attendance.
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