Is Puno probe beyond Senate mandate?

MANILA, Philippines – Is the Senate overstepping its bounds in investigating resigned Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno? 

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has ordered the Committee on Rules, headed by Sen Vicente Sotto III, to study the Senate’s investigation on Puno that starts on Friday, September 14.

“We will see if motu propio, any committee in the Senate can just call a hearing to evaluate an office because that is normally a function of the Executive Department,” Enrile told reporters on Wednesday, September 12.

He added, “We might be going beyond our mandate because we will be treading in the domain of the presidency since the Executive Department is under the President. He has control and supervision over all departments of government.”

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws will lead the investigation. Santiago said the probe will cover among others the “unique and exceptional powers” given to Puno in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Santiago could not be reached for comment on Wednesday; her staff said she is on sick leave due to “hypertension.”

After the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, it was revealed that there was then an arrangement for Puno to handle the police component of the Department while Robredo was tasked to focus primarily only on local government.

Malacañang announced Puno’s resignation on Tuesday, September 11. Santiago said the probe will still push through despite Puno’s resignation. 

Puno has been the subject of controversy over his decision to secure documents in the residence of his late boss, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, even if President Benigno Aquino III only ordered him to seal Robredo’s offices. 

Puno is reportedly the subject of an investigation into an arms deal of the Philippine National Police, although Puno denied this in a series of TV interviews Tuesday.

Santiago also wants him probed on his supposed ties to the illegal numbers game jueteng and illegal logging.

In media interviews, the resigned undersecretary said he is on vacation, hinting that he might not attend the Senate hearing. 

Not stopping Santiago

Enrile clarified that he is not barring Santiago from conducting the probe. He said he just wants to have the investigation studied in case the probe will be questioned.

“The Rules Committee is examining it because there is no resolution, no privilege speech, no pending bill regarding that. We want to find out what is sought by the lady senator. Normally, there is an oversight of that committee … but the committee has no oversight,” Enrile added.

Santiago earlier told reporters that she did not see the need to file a resolution because she is the chairperson of the committee that will conduct the investigation. 

The lady senator added that the investigation was in relation to the Administrative Code and the 1990 DILG Act, as amended by the 1998 Police Reform Act.

Enrile was asked if the Senate probe will be an exercise in futility in case the Rules Committee decides that Santiago’s committee has no jurisdiction to investigate Puno.

“Huwag niyo na akong tanungin sa opinyon,” Enrile said. (Don’t ask me anymore about my opinion.) – Rappler.com