Metro Manila, Philippines – All important documents, including those from the Blue Ribbon Committee, are safe after a fire hit an office inside the Senate building on Sunday morning, Nov. 30, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.
In a statement, Sotto said authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire at the Senate’s Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau and the extent of damage.
“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 currently deliberating the proposed 2026 national budget, while the Blue Ribbon Committee has an investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects.
However, the water used to put out the fire in the third floor, where the fire-hit office was located, resulted in a leakage to the Senate session hall, as seen from videos shared by the Senate’s secretary office.
“The Senate’s maintenance team will be working round the clock to dry and restore the Session Hall to ensure it is fully ready for Monday’s session,” Sotto said.
Sotto said the Senate’s internal security is working with the Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure the safety of the premises and personnel and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said “it’s very possible” that the cause may be an electrical issue. Bantug also said no people were sleeping inside the building when the fire broke out.
According to the authorities, the fire at the office of the Senate’s Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau was reported at 6:30 a.m. and reached the second alarm at 6:58 a.m. The fire was declared out at past 8 a.m.
