Senators advised: Go easy on probes
Go easy on probes “in aid of legislation,” Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago advised some of her colleagues who have a penchant for provoking witnesses with insensitive questions.
Santiago, herself known to be acerbic in her criticism of people who draw her ire, noted that some senators were unaware of the proper conduct when grilling witnesses.
She pointed out that certain senators, after being absent in a previous hearing, would ask questions about issues that had already been discussed when they attend the next hearing.
“The witness is asked the same questions again, which is not in accordance with the Rules of Court … and in some instances, it’s like there is no more logic and order,” she said.
The “lack of knowledge of legal procedure becomes more evident during their free-for-all,” she said.
Santiago suggested that once a witness invoked the right against self-incrimination, a recess should be called to let the senators decide whether the fears of the witness were unfounded.
Self-restraint
“We must observe self-restraint, but in politics, no one is willing to limit his TV exposure. You will not observe the same thing in (closed-door) executive sessions,” she noted.
Santiago attributed this behavior to live coverage by cable television and radio stations of what was transpiring in the chamber.
Sen. Joker Arroyo earlier blamed the tendency of some senators to hurl tactless remarks against witnesses in legislative inquiries which, he said, prompted former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to commit suicide at the height of the probe of corruption in the military.
Santiago, who also had her share of intense moments captured on live TV, lamented that when it came to technical discussions during debates on bills, other senators seldom displayed the same level of enthusiasm “because the legislative process is not telegenic.”
Dramatic exchanges
Senate investigations usually make prime-time news because of the dramatic exchanges between aggressive probers and intimidated witnesses.
Recently, two former officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office—Rosario Uriarte and Manuel Garcia—broke down in front of cameras while being grilled. They then invoked their right against self-incrimination at a hearing on intelligence funds.
By contrast, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and his brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo announced that they were not coming at all to the Senate probe of the sale to the Philippine National Police of secondhand helicopters that were passed off as brand-new.
Witnesses said Mike, husband of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had owned two used choppers that were sold to the PNP in 2009. He denied the allegations.
Ignacio claimed that his brother did not own the aircraft because it was the family-owned LTA Inc. that leased them from Lionair Inc.
Valueless
“Our inquiries, come to think of it, are valueless. Even if we submit our recommendations to the Ombudsman, it would still hold its own preliminary investigation on the cases we investigate,” Santiago said.
“There’s the drama and all that anger, but the bottom line remains, the investigations are of no help at all,” she said.
