Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ probe into the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo will not become a “kangaroo court,” its chairman assured on Monday.
The panel headed by Senator Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa is set to start the probe on April 17.
Invited to the hearing was suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., tagged as one of the masterminds in the assassination of Degamo and eight others.
“The mere fact na inimbitahanan natin sila gusto nating marinig yung side nila. Grabe naman yung kangaroo court, grabe naman. Hindi naman tayo mga NPA (New People’s Army) na gagamit ng kangaroo court,” the senator said in an interview with reporters.
(The mere fact that we invited them shows that we want to hear their side. It’s too much to call it a kangaroo court. We’re not NPA to use a kangaroo court)
Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, was earlier quoted saying that preliminary proceedings of the case indicate that it would become a kangaroo court.
“Relax lang sya, sabihan mo si Atty. Topacio. I-handle natin itong hearing na hindi lalabas na kangaroo court. Huwag sya mag alala,” Dela Rosa went on.
(Tell Atty. Topacio to just relax. We’ll handle this hearing without appearing like a kangaroo court. He shouldn’t worry)
The panel, he pointed out, is even allowing Teves to virtually attend the probe since the latter refuses to return home from the United States after he was implicated in the massacre.
The senator said this is to allow the beleaguered congressman to air his side and clear his name over his alleged involvement in the Degamo killing.
Dela Rosa expressed doubts the panel would allow a lawyer to represent the Teves in the hearing.
“I don’t think so. Hindi naman imbitado yung lawyer. Ang inimbitahan natin as a resource person ay yung mga concerned mismo,” he said.