Hotels fill political vacuum
The country's congressmen are spending a lot of time in Manila's luxury hotels - because there is not enough room for them to meet in the parliament building.
The Batasan complex, which contains the House of Representatives, cannot cater to the multitude of committees dealing with day-to-day business.
So for the past two months some house committees have been meeting in such places as the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.
The Batasan complex has only seven conference rooms. Committee chairmen say that because of continuing budget hearings they are hard pressed to find a place to conduct their hearings.
At least one congressman, Eric Singson, a member of the ruling Lakas Party, is benefiting from the lack of space. He is part-owner of the hotel.
But a committee chairman insists he opted for the Rembrandt 'for no other reason' than its proximity to the Batasan complex.
There are at least two closer hotels - the Asian Institute of Tourism and the Sulo Hotel - but they are not quite as comfortable as the Rembrandt.
