Escudero disagrees with Ombudsman, wants Napoles to testify in Senate

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 11 years ago

Sen. Francis Escudero INQUIRER PHOTO/DELFIN T. MALLARI JR./INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday questioned the Ombudsman’s advice against summoning Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, to the Senate.

Escudero, in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM, said the Senate has a “higher constitutional duty” and that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has no right to “dictate upon the Senate what is in aid of legislation and what is not.”

His statement was in reaction to Morales’ letter saying Napoles testimony “at this time” would not produce “complete, nay reliable information that legislation intends to affect or change.”

Senators on Tuesday were divided on whether to invite Napoles or not after Senate President Franklin Drilon said the chamber would defer to the Ombudsman’s opinion.

“Hindi nagbabago ang posisyon ko sa bagay na iyan [My position on that issue has not changed],” Escudero said, explaining that he was the one who asked that Napoles and the whistleblowers appear during the Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation on the pork barrel scam.

He also said the Ombudsman Act (Republic Act 6770) cited by Morales as basis for her opinion against publicizing the issue did not apply to the current situation.

“It is still [in the process of] fact finding – the [case] with the Ombudsman,” he said, explaining that the law only applies when there is already preliminary investigation.

He also said “[the public disclosure provision] is only applicable to the Ombudsman. It is not applicable to witnesses, the accused, the Department of Justice and whistleblowers.”

Escudero said blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III could pursue the subpoena for Napoles through plenary, though it would be better if they get a consensus through a caucus.

The senator said the disagreements stemmed from such “new experiences, new challenges on the part of the Senate.”

“Whatever the shortcomings of the institution, whatever the shortcomings of our colleagues, perhaps it is part of how we adjust to the challenges and trials [brought about by the pork barrel controversy],” he said.