Congress resumes sessions today

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the outgoing 15th Congress are scheduled to resume their final session today after a four-month election campaign-related recess.

Under the legislative calendar, senators and congressmen are supposed to be in session up to Wednesday to act on pending bills before adjourning again. Their term of office expires on June 30.

Nothing much is expected to come out of the final session since the Senate and the House of Representatives had already approved many bills before going on recess for the election campaign in February.

These measures included the controversial reproductive health bill, which is now a law but whose implementation has been stopped by the Supreme Court.

While enough senators are expected to attend the resumption of session, quorum could be a problem in the House.

Many congressmen are on their way out and may not show up. These are those who sought reelection but were defeated by their opponents, and those who are on their third and last term.

The victors in the congressional and senatorial races would most likely show up.

Among them are Representatives Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora and Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan. The two have been elected senators.

In the Senate, reelected senators were Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel III, Gregorio Honasan, and Antonio Trillanes IV.

Members of the incoming 16th Congress are to take their oath of office also on June 30.

Congressmen pushing for the freedom of information (FOI) bill said yesterday they expect the new Congress to approve the measure.

They have announced that they would re-file the bill, while Malacañang has said it was prepared to support its approval.