Senate President Tito Sotto on Sunday assured the public that all Senate documents—including those related to the ongoing multibillion-peso flood control scandal—were fully protected after a fire broke out in the Senate building in Pasay City early November 30.
The blaze, reported to the Bureau of Fire Protection at around 6:30 a.m., originated from the Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau on the building’s third floor. Firefighters were able to contain the incident by 7:43 a.m., according to Sotto.
“Authorities are currently determining the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage,” he said, adding that water from firefighting efforts leaked into the session hall.
Sotto emphasized that no important records were harmed, including those held by the Senate blue ribbon committee.
“Rest assured that all pertinent Senate documents, including those of the Blue Ribbon Committee, remain intact, safe, and completely unaffected by the fire,” he said.
The Senate is now coordinating with the BFP and internal security to ensure personnel safety, protect facilities, and prevent future incidents. Sotto added that maintenance teams are working nonstop to dry and restore the session hall ahead of Monday’s session.