Guingona hits efforts to gag witnesses in ‘pork’ probe

MANILA, Philippines – Senator TG Guingona hits what he calls efforts to “gag and bar” witnesses from testifying in his committee’s probe into the pork barrel scam.

Ayee Macaraig reports.

TG GUINGONA
PHILIPPINE SENATOR
I’m very, very disappointed.

Senator TG Guingona fumes at Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
The chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee expected principal whistleblower Benhur Luy and other former aides of mastermind Janet Napoles to appear in the hearing Tuesday
after a commitment from De Lima last week.
But De Lima changes her mind.

LEILA DE LIMA
JUSTICE SECRETARY
After our conversation, I had to take a closer look at Ombudsman law, rules of procedures. It confirmed the no publicity rule when a case is filed if it will prejudice the case.

The hearing abruptly ends.
Guingona orders De Lima to bring the whistleblowers to the next hearing on Thursday.
The senator says Senate President Franklin Drilon and De Lima are wrong in invoking the Ombudsman rules.

TG GUINGONA
PHILIPPINE SENATOR
Nobody, nobody, the Ombudsman nor the courts can interfere with the Senate. We are a separate branch of government and this power has been put in the Constitution and upheld in long line of cases in the Supreme Court and I will not allow anyone, anyone to diminish the power and the stature of the Senate.

But Guingona is in for more disappointment.
While Drilon signs the subpoena for De Lima and the whistleblowers, the Senate President announces the Senate will abide by the advice of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales not to summon Napoles to its investigation.
Drilon sought her opinion after Guingona asked him to sign a subpoena for Napoles.

FRANKLIN DRILON
PHILIPPINE SENATE PRESIDENT
Out of prudence, respect, we must defer to the Ombudsman as she has acquired primary jurisdiction in the case.

Q: Ano pong masasabi niyo na reluctant lang ang Senate imbitahan si Napoles? (What can you say about the people saying the Senate is reluctant to invite Napoles?)

There is no reluctance. We sought opinion of the Ombudsman.

Guingona again cries foul.
He says it doesn’t make sense that Drilon summons the whistleblowers
but refuses to subpoena the alleged pork barrel queen.
The chairman adds the Senate is not bound by the advice of the Ombudsman.
Senator Francis Escudero agrees.

FRANCIS ESCUDERO
PHILIPPINE SENATOR

Nabasa ko ang letter ng Ombudsman. Wala sa kanyang puder na sabihin ano ang in aid of legislation at ano ang hindi. Wala rin sa kanyang puder na sabihin kung ano ang maaring sabihin ni Napoles dahil desisyon lang ni Napoles yun. (I read the letter of the Ombudsman. It’s not in her jurisdiction to say what is in aid of legislation and what is not. It is also not in her jurisdiction to say what Napoles can or can’t say because that will be Napoles’ decision alone.)

Escudero says the senators will meet to resolve the fate
of the Senate’s probe into its own members.
The independence of the Senate or the authority of the Ombudsman? Beyond the legal issue, a power struggle ensues between the President’s allies in the Senate as more names get dragged into the pork barrel scam. They all claim to uphold the law and the public good but whose interests are they really protecting?

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com