File photo of the Senate investigation into the PDEA leaks. PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will be just wasting public funds if a third hearing on a dubious report linking personalities to drug use is conducted, House of Representatives lawmakers said on Thursday.
Instead, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre and Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy V believe the Senate panels should be used to discuss more important issues and not the documents linking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to drug use, which has been debunked by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs headed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa has conducted two hearings on the matter. Earlier, it was revealed that the panel is already preparing for a third hearing.
“I am confused about why there is a third hearing. This is a clear waste of time and a waste of governments’ money, a waste of taxpayers’ money. First, the information only came from a vlogger,” Dy said in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex.
“The timing of the hearing is confusing, because this came out when there are many attacks against the President, then the documents from PDEA would come out — when PDEA itself is saying that they do not have these documents,” he added.
Acidre meanwhile said that while he respects the Senate’s mandate to conduct investigations, it should also be mindful that there are a lot of bills pending with them — including proposals with national significance.
“I acknowledge the mandate and the right of the Senate to do these hearings, and I believe Senator dela Rosa as a former head of the national police, that he is a patriot and that he knows what he’s doing. He, as a policeman, knows the rules of evidence and I hope that he sticks to what he believes and what he knows,” Acidre said.
“But it is becoming a laughing stock that we would continue with the hearings when we can see that it is not going anywhere, and the discussions are about stories only […] We have lots of priority legislation pending with the Senate (like) the (proposed) Government Procurement Act, Natural Water Resources Act, Department of Water. Many bills were passed by the House that are in the Senate now, which I think warrants more of their time and attention,” he added.
Acidre said that he hopes dela Rosa sees that critics of the President are taking advantage of the hearing when the document in question has been deemed fake by PDEA officials.
“The bad thing about this is freely, someone is benefiting from the opportunity and the audience to attack the President and his administration, and I hope Senator dela Rosa sees that it would not help the Senate as an institution to give time to baseless issues,” he said.
“I hope they put their efforts towards passing priority legislation,” he added.
In a briefing on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker David Suarez acknowledged Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s reminder to senators that hearings must not be used for a political circus or witch-hunting. However, Suarez asked why dela Rosa’s committee was allowed to hold hearings when the Senate President has these sentiments.
READ: Solon asks Senate panel on PDEA leaks hearing: What law do you want to amend?
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong in the same briefing also asked what specific law the Senate panel would like to amend, as the hearings about fake documents continue.