Sen. Franklin Drilon. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines— In an apparent change of heart, Senate President Franklin Drilon decided on Tuesday to just leave it to his colleagues in the Senate to decide whether or not to issue a subpoena to Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion “pork barrel”funds scam.
Drilon said the matter concerning the appearance and testimony of Napoles before the investigation of the buue ribbon committee would be discussed in a caucus when Senate resumes session on October 14.
“In view of the response of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, I will submit the issue whether to issue a subpoena to Napoles to the decision and judgment of the senators,” he said in a statement.
Drilon was referring to Morales’ response to Senator Teofisto Guingona III’s appeal to reconsider his decision not to summon Napoles to the televised Senate investigation.
Guingona is the chairman of the committee that requested a subpoena to Napoles. But Drilon, heeding the Ombudsman’s advise, decided not to sign the subpoena.
In a letter to Drilon Monday, the Ombudsman maintained her earlier advice not to allow “at this time” Napoles to testify in the Senate.
Despite this, the Senate leader said he would leave it up to his colleagues to decide on the matter.
Drilon expressed hopes though that his colleagues would realize the implication if Napoles would appear in the Senate before the Ombudsman could finish its initial and fact-finding evaluation of the plunder case filed before it in connection with pork mess.
“I am confident that majority of the senators understand and will support my decision not to issue a subpoena to Napoles ‘at this time’ in deference to the recommendation of the Ombudsman which is now investigating the case,” he said.
“We consider it a matter of prime importance that we should allow the Ombudsman to complete its initial fact-finding evaluation of the plunder case filed before it in connection with the pork barrel scam.”
“What is at stake here is the ability of the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute the PDAF misuse cases against the Napoles with dispatch and without delay. This is the principal goal of our justice system,” Drilon added.
Drilon said that “prudence and caution” guided his decision not to sign a subpoena to Napoles.
“While my decision appears unpopular to media and a public eager to see Napoles grilled by the Blue Ribbon Committee, I have decided on the side of caution. I would rather err on the side of prudence,” he said.
The Congress is in on a session break until October 13.
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