Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Some Senate employees and visitors were denied entry to the chamber on Wednesday as tighter security measures were enforced following reports of a possible threat.
Among those stopped at the gate were staff members of Sens. Loren Legarda and Kiko Pangilinan, who were not immediately allowed to enter the Senate compound.
A member of the security team said they had been informed that Legarda was expected to go to the Senate that day.
The restricted access followed a memorandum issued Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, which imposed a temporary no-visitor policy.
Despite the stricter screening, a member of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms said the chamber was not under lockdown, as some employees were still allowed inside.
Security personnel at the gate were seen checking names against a list before granting access to those cleared to enter.
Gatchalian had also issued a separate advisory allowing Senate employees to work remotely on Wednesday and Thursday, citing the security threat relayed by the National Bureau of Investigation.
