Physically presentAt least three senators—Miguel Zubiri, Aquilino Pimentel III and Juan Edgardo Angara—and several Senate employees have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after an infected person served as a resource person in one Senate session. But those who wish to deliver a privilege speech would have to be physically present in the session hall, Sotto added. “Definitely, we will convene [but] we may have to conduct the session online again,” Cayetano said earlier. Since the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19, Congress has held a special session and several committee meetings through video conferencing, which, according to Lagman, may be questioned in court. But the new rules may be made retroactive, Lagman said, to cover the virtual House special session on March 24.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 02, 2020 21:22 UTC