Acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian has ordered a temporary work-from-home arrangement for all Senate offices on June 10 and 11, following a security briefing from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag regarding potential threats to the institution.
According to an advisory released on Tuesday, Gatchalian explained that the two-day remote work setup is intended to give law enforcement and security personnel enough time to conduct thorough safety evaluations, inspections, and sweeps inside the Senate complex.
“The safety and security of all Senate personnel remain a foremost priority as the concerned authorities undertake the appropriate security protocols within the Senate premises,” Gatchalian said.
Despite the shift to remote work, the acting Senate chief directed all department heads to ensure that legislative operations remain uninterrupted.
“If, and when necessary, for the performance of security, safety, maintenance, and other essential functions, heads of offices may require the on-site attendance of personnel,” Gatchalian furthered.
Offices tasking employees with on-site duties during this period were instructed to submit a list of those personnel to the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms for monitoring and clearance.
In a radio interview prior to the advisory, Gatchalian confirmed that the NBI had flagged credible risks directed at the upper chamber, prompting immediate defensive adjustments.
“We also need to adjust our security efforts. Security must really be tightened, and we need to further adjust security protocols because we do not want anything to happen again to our employees and to the senators,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian urged everyone to maintain heightened vigilance while intelligence and law enforcement agencies continuous to validate the threat and fortify the security protocols within the legislative building.