Nagpaliwanag si Senador Joel Villanueva sa hindi pagdalo sa special session ng Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso kung saan tinalakay ang panukala na magbibigay kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ng karagdagang kapangyarihan para tugunan ang coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Ayon kay Villanueva, naka-self-quarantine pa rin siya hanggang ngayon matapos makasalamuha ang maraming taong nakiramay sa pagpanaw ng kanyang ina na inihatid sa huling hantungan noong Marso 17.
“We have been on self-quarantine the past week, and will continue to do so this week, given our interaction with a lot of people who paid their respects to our mother whom we laid to rest on March 17,” sabi ni Villanueva sa isang pahayag nitong Lunes.
Gayunpaman, nakatutok naman umano siya sa mga kaganapan sa special session at nagbigay na rin ng komento at suhestiyon hinggil sa nasabing panukala.
“We thank the Senate leadership for allowing us to cast our vote and enter our manifestation on the bill being deliberated on the floor later in the day,” dagdag pa nito.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni Senador Nancy Binay na pinalawig pa niya ang kanyang self-quarantine batay na rin sa payo ng kanyang mga doktor.
“Much as I wanted to participate in today’s Special Session, I am still on an extended quarantine period given the fact that I have been exposed twice to persons who have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus,” sabi ni Binay na nagnegatibo sa COVID-19 test.
“Having a pre-existing condition, I have been advised to avoid being exposed, as much as I do not wish to risk the health of my colleagues,” dagdag pa nito. (Dindo Matining)