Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, during one of the Senate deliberations. Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Sonny Angara on Monday said the Supreme Court’s decision to nullify the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s arrest and contempt order against Pharmally executives Linconn Ong and Michael Yang does not question the upper chamber’s rights, but its method of exercising its power.
Angara explained the Supreme Court’s stand during the chamber’s plenary deliberations on the national budget bill for next year.
READ: Senate panel cites Rose Nono-Lin, 4 others for contempt
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel initially asked the high court to explain the details of its decision, asking if the court is, in any way, curtailing the right of the Senate to cite resources in contempt.
“Sa simpleng salita, hindi kinukwestyon ng hukom ang ating kapangyarihan dito sa Senado o ang contempt power natin sapagkat nasa saligang batas po ‘yan, pero ‘yung paraan po ng pag exercise nito,” said Angara, sponsor of the judiciary’s budget for 2024.
(In simple words, the Supreme Court is not questioning our power here in the Senate or our contempt power because that is in the Constitution, but the way to exercise it.)
“Kapag nag deklara po tayo ng isang witness in contempt ay kailangang may due process o bigyan ho siya ng oportunidad na marinig at ipaliwanag ang kanyang testimonya,” Angara added.
(When we declare a witness in contempt, there must be due process or give him an opportunity to be heard and explain his testimony.)
In 2021, Ong and Yang were cited by a Senate panel in contempt for allegedly giving vague and evasive answers to questions regarding Pharmally’s contract with the government to purchase COVID-19 medical supplies.
READ: Pharmally’s Linconn Ong brings fight vs Senate’s contempt order to SC
According to Angara, the Senate should “go back to the circumstances” of the case and study it, so that the chamber can be guided accordingly in the future.