Tolentino to issue order allowing lawyers to join Senate blue ribbon panel hearings

(FILE) BLUE RIBBON TO DIG MORE FACTS: Sen. Francis “Tol” N. Tolentino presides over the continuation of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Thursday, September 29, 2022 to extract more evidence in order to establish concrete facts relative to the alleged irregularities in the procurement of laptops by the Department of Education (DepEd) for teachers’ distance learning program. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino will be issuing an order allowing lawyers to participate in Senate blue ribbon committee hearings.

Lawyers will have “bigger roles” in Senate blue ribbon committee hearings, Tolentino, chairperson of the said panel, said on Wednesday.

“For the first time in the history of the blue ribbon, during the latter part of the proceedings, I will make an order that would allow lawyers to participate, lawyers of different witnesses and resource persons.

“May karapatan sila. May abogado sila at ‘yung mga abogado nila will have a role, perhaps not an adversarial speaking role, but they will definitely have a role and a big role,” he said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(They have a right. They will have a lawyer, and their lawyers will have a role, perhaps not an adversarial speaking part, but they will definitely have a significant stint.)

The blue ribbon committee’s mandate is to look into issues linked to “malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government.”

On Thursday morning, the panel will resume its investigation on the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education through the Department of Budget and Management. —with reports from Kristelle Razon, INQUIRER.net trainee

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