Senators-elect Leila de Lima and Manny Pacquiao were absent from Monday’s Senate orientation for incoming lawmakers.
Only three senators-elect Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros appeared in the briefing conducted by the Senate Secretariat.
De Lima said she was already briefed ahead of his colleagues. She said a Senate official already briefed her “one-on-one” since she had a conflict of schedule on the date of the orientation.
De Lima and Pacquiao sent a team headed by their chiefs of staff to attend the orientation seminar on their behalf.
Except for De Lima who served as justice secretary before joining politics and running for senators, the four other neophyte members of the Senate were former congressmen.
The neophyte senators and their staff were briefed about the legislative work in the chamber, including maintenance, security and their salaries.
The incoming senators were thankful for the conduct of orientation.
Senate Secretary-General Oscar Yabes said those who spoke in the orientation were from the secretariat, sergeant-at-arms and legislative services offices.
Senators were expected to file their proposed measures on June 30, but the filing will be based on the seniority of senators.