Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines.
Rewritten version:
Senate reopens to visitors under security system
The Senate has reopened its doors to visitors under a visitor management system supervised by the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian announced the lifting of the no-visitation policy in a video message released Monday.
The policy was imposed weeks earlier after the Senate was placed under heightened alert status due to alleged security threats.
Gatchalian said his duty as Senate President was to preserve the stability of the institution and ensure the safety of senators, employees, media workers, visitors, and the public.
He said the Senate would continue coordinating with security agencies to keep the chamber safe while allowing public access.
Security measures include continued inspection of entry points, presentation of proper identification, and monitoring of Senate premises.
Gatchalian said his office remained open to suggestions and would work to balance security needs with accessibility.
The Senate was placed under heightened alert on June 9, when Gatchalian temporarily suspended visitation and ordered stricter security measures and preventive safety protocols at the chamber.