expression of such words constitutes a criminal offence or a wrongful act against any other person who is not a Minister or member of that House.
In the case of paragraph two, if the words expressed by the member cause damage to another person who is not a Minister or member of that House, the President of that House shall cause explanations to be published as requested by that person in accordance with procedures and within such period of time prescribed in the rules of procedure of that House, without prejudice to the right of such person to bring the case before the Court.
The privilege provided in this section extends to printers and publishers of the minutes of sittings in accordance with the rules of procedure of the House of Representatives, the Senate or the National Assembly, as the case may be, and to persons permitted by the presiding member to give statements of fact or opinions at such sitting as well as to persons who broadcasts the sitting through radio or television or any other mean with the permission of the President of the such House mutatis mutandis.
Section 125. During a session, no Member of the House of Representatives or Senator shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry as a suspect in a criminal case unless permission of the House of which he or she is a member is obtained or he or she is arrested in flagrante delicto.
In the case where a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator has been arrested in flagrante delicto, a report shall forthwith be submitted to the President of the House of which he or she is a member, and, for the benefit of a sitting, such President may order the release of the person so arrested in order to attend the sitting.
If a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator is detained during inquiry or trial before the beginning of a session, when the session begins, the inquiry officer or the Court, as the case may be, must order his or her release as soon as the President of the House of which he or she is a member has so requested. In this regard, the Court may order their release on bail or on bail and bond.
In the case where a criminal charge is brought against a Member of the House or Representatives or a Senator, whether the House is in session or not, the Court may try the case during the session, provided that the trial shall not hinder such member from attending the sitting of the House.
Section 126. In the absence of the House of Representatives whether due to the expiration of its term, its dissolution, or on any other grounds, the Senate shall not hold its sitting except in the following cases:
- (1) where the National Assembly shall act under section 17, section 19, section 20, section 21, or section 177;
