Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate of the Philippines
| Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate of the Philippines | |
|---|---|
 | |
Incumbent since August 1, 2022Lt. Gen. Roberto T. Ancan (Ret.) | |
| Senate of the Philippines | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Seat | GSIS Building, Financial Center, Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Pasay |
| Appointer | Elected by the Senate |
| Salary | ₱2,270,000 per year (2023)[1] |
The sergeant-at-arms of the Senate of the Philippines is the officer designated to secure and maintain order in the Senate of the Philippines as directed by the Senate President or Secretary, and is responsible for both physical and logical security for the members of the Senate, their staff, offices of the Secretariat and all properties located within the premises of the upper chamber of Congress.
Powers and duties
[edit]
According to Rule VI, Section 8 of the Rules of the Senate, the duties and powers of the Sergeant-at-Arms are:
- To keep under his custody the Mace of the Senate;
- To attend the sessions of the Senate;
- To be responsible for the security and maintenance of order in the session hall, antechambers, corridors and offices of the Senate, and the protection and safety of all its members within or outside the Senate premises, whether in session or not, in accordance with the orders of the President or the Secretary;
- To execute or serve, personally or through his delegates, the summons and subpoenas which may be issued by the Senate, the permanent or special committees, or the President himself;
- To enforce a citation for contempt issued by any committee of the Senate, and to detain and place under custody any witness who disobeys any order of the committee;
- To be responsible for the strict compliance by his subordinates of their respective duties. He may impose upon them corrective or disciplinary measures for just cause, including a recommendation to the President of the Senate, through the Secretary, for their dismissal; and
- To recommend to the President, through the Secretary, approval of the uniform to be worn by the personnel assigned to serve under him in the session hall.
Sergeants-at-Arms of the Senate
[edit]The following persons served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate:
 |
| Name | Term start | Term end | Legislature | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lt. Col. Clemente E. Antonio (Ret.) | 1987 | 1993 | 8th Congress | [1] |
| 9th Congress | ||||
| BGen. Liberato A. Manuel (Ret.) | 1993 | 1994 | [2] | |
| Antonio B. De Guzman | 1994 | 1995 | [3] | |
| BGen. Carmelito G. Beltran (Ret.) | 1995 | 1996 | 10th Congress | [2] |
| Col. Alberto M. de Castro (Ret.) | 1996 | February 1998 | [4] | |
| BGen. Leonardo P. Lopez (Ret.) | February 1998 | April 2002 | [5] | |
| 11th Congress | ||||
| 12th Congress | ||||
| MGen. Jose V. Balajadia Jr. (Ret.) | April 2002 | June 30, 2019 | [6][7] | |
| 13th Congress | ||||
| 14th Congress | ||||
| 15th Congress | ||||
| 16th Congress | ||||
| 17th Congress | ||||
| MGen. Edgardo Rene C. Samonte (Ret.) | July 22, 2019 | August 1, 2022 | 18th Congress | [8] |
| 19th Congress | ||||
| Lt. Gen. Roberto T. Ancan (Ret.) | August 1, 2022 | present | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^ The Philippine Congress, 1987-1992. 1988. p. 43.
- ^ a b "Senate Museum". Matterport Discover. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "Senate Resolution No. 9, s. 1995, 10th Congress of the Republic | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ "Senate Resolution No. 124 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Board of Directors (PDF). Manila International Airport Authority. p. 12.
- ^ "Press Release - Gordon honors the late Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia in a resolution". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ Rita, Joviland (2019-07-07). "Ex-Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Balajadia passes away". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ "Samonte is the 13th Senate sergeant-at-arms". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ "Senate elects new Sergeant-at-arms". Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2025-06-04.