The Senate has amended its rules to authorize the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to protect members of the Upper Chamber, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Wednesday, August 7.

Escudero said amendments to a portion of its rules was done during the plenary session on Tuesday night. 

“We amended a portion of the rules to authorize our Sergeant-at-Arms to do what he can to protect not only the institution, the office, the building and those in it, but also the members (of the Senate),” Escudero said in a press conference. 

The Senate chief said they amended the rules in response to the threats being received by some members of the Senate due to the hearings on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related crimes. 

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian had earlier disclosed receiving death threats and revealed that he and Sen. Risa Hontiveros are being targeted.

“Itong amendment na ito ay dahil dun sa nanyari sa mga pagdinig kay Mayor Alice Guo na nagkaroon ng banta sa ilang miyembro at nagkaroon ng ilang question kaugnay sa pag-serve ng mga warrant of arrest at contempt orders ng Senado na kailangan pang dumaan sa police (This amendment was due to what happened to the hearings on Mayor Alicie Guo where some of our members received threats and there were also questions about the serving of arrest warrants and contempt orders by the Senate that needed the approval of the police),” he explained.

Escudero further clarified that the amended Senate rules had nothing to do with the alleged security pullout that some senators, specifically Senators Ronald “Bato”  Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, had earlier raised.