Philippine senators skip IPU assembly due to coronavirus

Philippine senators Franklin Drilon, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, and Joel Villanueva will skip the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) 142nd Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland due to the coronavirus threat.

Drilon believes the assembly may not proceed as many attendees are from countries affected by COVID-19.

Sotto said he is not discouraging other colleagues from attending but expressed uncertainty about the safety of travel given the rapid spread of the virus in Europe.