While the members of the Senate were busy with drama and with patting each other on the back for doing their jobs, they apparently forgot that there was still work to be done.
According to the Inquirer, diplomats from India and the United Kingdom left the Senate Friday afternoon after realizing not enough senators showed up to ratify extradition treaties with the Philippines.
The Senate has the sole power to ratify, or formally approve, international treaties and agreements that the Philippine government enters into. The Senate needed 16 votes to ratify extradition treaties with India, the UK, and Spain but only 15 senators showed up and they weren’t even all at the session hall at the same time.
Present on the last session day of the Senate for the 15th Congress were Senate President Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Edgardo Angara, Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Aquilino Pimentel III, Joker Arroyo, Teofisto Guingona III, Panfilo Lacson, Sergio Osmeña III, Manny Villar, Francis Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes IV.
Sorry, nations friendly to the Philippines. Maybe next time.
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Photo: Senate President Jinggoy Estrada
