LACSON TO COLLEAGUES: HEED IPU CALL TO LET TRILLANES ATTEND SENATE SESSIONS

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson called on his fellow senators Monday to heed the International Parliamentary Union (IPU)'s resolution to allow Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to attend regular Senate sessions.

Lacson said it is high time that the Committee on Rules act on at least two resolutions allowing Trillanes to fulfill his lawmaking duties by attending the sessions, even under heavy guard.

Lacson noted that as early as October 21 last year, the IPU Governing Council pushed for allowing Trillanes to attend Senate sessions at its 185th session.

The IPU resolution noted that while Trillanes was arrested and detained in July 2003, he was allowed to run for senator in May 2007 and was elected.

Despite earning a mandate from the people, his detention made him "virtually unable to carry out his parliamentary mandate," while his applications to be allowed to attend Senate sessions have been rejected by the court.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Accounts Committee, is working to allow Trillanes to attend Senate sessions through video-conferencing - with the concurrence of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

The IPU had noted the Philippine Senate has adopted Senate Resolutions 3 and 765, effectively changing some rules to allow Trillanes to attend sessions, hearings and/or meetings through remote or electronic means.

On the other hand, the IPU voiced deep regrets the resolution has not yet been implemented, thus depriving Trillanes' electorate of representation in parliament. It called on competent Senate authorities "to ensure that the Resolution is implemented without further delay."