Escudero cautions colleagues against reopening NBN probe
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:41:00 05/15/2008
Filed Under: NBN deal
MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has cautioned his colleagues in the Senate against reopening the national broadband network (NBN) pending the chamber‘s case before the Supreme Court.
The Senate has a pending motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court decision upholding the executive privilege invoked by former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri, a key witness in the NBN scandal.
“Let us remember that part of the decision of the Supreme Court was the absence of published rules by the committee. This might have a legal effect on the planned hearing and witnesses and some senators might question the session if this is not clarified in a caucus,” Escudero said in Filipino on Thursday during a forum in the Senate.
The Senate committee on rules and three others -- blue ribbon, national defense and trade and commerce -- investigating the NBN controversy, should first discuss the matter in a caucus and explain the guidelines in the hearing to avoid any questions in the future.
“I think the Senate in any investigation favoring or against any particular individual or side in the political spectrum must face up to its responsibility of investigation as an institution,” Escudero said.
“The senators should come up with a consensus as to what the Senate would do. We might have different opinions on the issue and represent different political colors, but when it comes to the power, right, and obligation of the Senate as an institution, we should be united,” he said.
But Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the committee on rules, saw no legal impediment on the upper chamber’s resumption of the investigation on the NBN.
“Yes it can. There is no legal impediment to resuming the hearings and calling other witnesses,” Pangilinan said in a text message.
“The Neri case was filed in November 2007 yet we proceeded with the hearings even while the case was pending,” he pointed out.
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