MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile has directed the doctor of the chamber to go to the residence of former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and wife, Erlinda, to verify if indeed they were sick and could not attend this Thursday’s hearing in the Senate.
Enrile warned that the Senate would be forced to use its “coercive” power if they find out that the couple was lying about their health condition.
“In the course of life, it’s possible that both are sick. It’s also possible that they are not….But it’s my duty as Senate President during my watch to see to it that this institution is not played with by anybody no matter who or she is, I’m not going to allow this institution to be rendered inutile by anyone,” the Senate leader said when the Senate blue ribbon committee resumed its hearing on Thursday on the alleged anomalies in the military.
“And I’d like to order the doctor of the Senate to go to the house of the Ligots to examine them and report to the Senate their findings and if indeed they’re sick, we will accept the manifestation of the lawyer,” he said.
“On the other hand, if they are not, then I regret that we in the Senate will exercise our coercive power to see to it this institution will function properly as an instrument of the people for good, not for evil..to exact obedience if necessary in order that it can function properly as a Senate of the Republic of the Philippines,” Enrile added.
The Senate leader stressed that the chamber would exercise its power “to see to it that no one can make a fool of the Senate.
In a letter to the committee through their laywer, Rafael Zialcita, the Ligots excused themselves from the hearing, citing health reasons.
Zialcita said Mrs. Ligot was suffering from severe palpitation and acute gastroenteritis while the former military official was down with flu.”
Because of the couple’s absence in the hearing, the committee’s original schedule of 9:00 a.m. to start the hearing had been delayed by more than an hour.