FILE PHOTO: Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate panel headed by Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa will invite Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel to its hearing on the alleged recruitment of students to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Dela Rosa announced it during the committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ Tuesday hearing after former rebels Arian Jane Ramos and Kate Raca testified that Manuel allegedly recruited students to be a part of the NPA.
“Invitation lang naman. While we respect inter-parliamentary courtesy, we also would like to afford him the floor kung gusto niya magsalita dito harap harapan don sa mga dati niyang kasamahan, baka gusto niyang i-defend ang sarili niya. Invitation lang, we are not forcing him,” he said.
(This is just an invitation. While we respect inter-parliamentary courtesy, we also would like to afford him the floor if he wants to talk here in front of his former colleagues, maybe he wants to defend himself. This is only an invitation.)
Dela Rosa pointed out that despite the inter-parliamentary courtesy between the Senate and the House of Representatives, he was invited to the House probe into the alleged rights violations during the war on drugs of the Duterte administration. He did not attend.
“But anyway, just offer him. Baka gusto niya pumunta. Imbitahan lang ninyo pero I don’t think pupunta yan dito,” Dela Rosa said
(Maybe he wants to come. Just invite him but I don’t think he will come.)
It was Raca who floated the idea of inviting Manuel. She said it would be better for the lawmaker to tell the story himself.
“Actually puwede naman silang magpunta rito to defend themselves, baka sabihin nila kami lang ang nagsasalita dito. I suggest that we invite Raoul Manuel. These people — France Castro and who else, basta yung mga partylist po ng Makabayan bloc — baka sabihin nila one sided yung story eh di halika dito Raoul at mag-usap tayo ng mga pinaggagawa natin noon. Suggestion lang,” Raca said.
(Actually, they can come here to defend themselves. They might assume that we are the only ones talking here, so I suggest that we invite Raoul Manuel. These people — France Castro and who else, those party-list members of the Makabayan bloc — might say that this is just a one-sided story. Come here Raoul. Let’s talk about what we did in the past. That’s just my suggestion.)
In November 2023, Dela Rosa vowed to do everything in his power to pin down Manuel for the latter’s alleged involvement in the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The Kabataan party-list has denied the accusations.
“This is not senatorial behavior. This is a waste of Senate resources and an abuse of public funds. No official should use his position in the government to exceed his responsibility and attack the youth and our countrymen who promote justice,” the Kabataan party-list said.
READ: Dela Rosa tags Makabayan bloc opposing VP Sara’s CIF as ‘enemies of peace’