ABSENT SENATORS EVADE ARREST IN PHILIPPINES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22889, 8 March 1949, Page 5

ABSENT SENATORS EVADE ARREST IN PHILIPPINES

(2.30 p.m.) MANILA, Mar. 7. The police today could not find nine of the 10 Philippines Senators when they went to arrest them for having failed to attend the Senate session.

The Senators and the former Senate President, Senator Jose Avelina, walked out of the Senate 15 days ago when Senator Avelino was accused of abuse of public office.

A “rump” session of the 12 remaining Senators elected Senator Mariam Cuenco as acting Senate President and today invoked the Senate’s power of arrest to bring the absent members back to the chamber.

The police and the deputy Sergeant-at-Arms found only Senator Fernando Lopez at home. He accepted the arrest warrant but refused to accompany the Sergeant-at-Arms to the Senate Chambers and now faces contempt proceedings.

Senator Avelino told reporters: “Since I refused to recognise the Cuenco Senate, I can call my own Senate into session and order the arrest of the members of the ‘rump’ Senate.” He said he will ask the Supreme Court to consider its decision to refer the dispute back to the Senate for settlement.

The Supreme Court found that Senator Avelino had illegally adjourned the Senate to avoid hearing formal charges of abuse of office against him. There are 24 Senators in all.