MANILA, Philippines—Opposition senators have cast doubt on the propriety of Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III’s release of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s unsigned draft report that found merit in the filing of plunder charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla, Jr.
Sen. JV Ejercito and Sen. Nancy Binay, minority’s members in the committee, said they weren’t consulted on the draft report and Guingona’s decision to release it to the media.
“It would have been better had he given the members of the blue ribbon committee the courtesy of showing the draft report before making it public,” Ejercito said in a text message. “At least, we could have indicated our reservations or objections if there are any to the report.”
Binay said Guingona should’ve been more circumspect. “We even have yet to see the report…. So technically, it’s not yet official,” she said in a statement.
Sen. Francis Escudero, who sought the blue ribbon inquiry on the pork barrel scam, said Guingona’s report may have been a draft but it was certainly official.
“All the documents emanating from the Senate or any of its committees are official documents. But only that it is only a draft until majority of the members sign,” Escudero said.
Escudero said that if majority of the blue ribbon panel members sign, it becomes the committee report that will be presented to the Senate plenary. If the minority disagrees and comes up with its own report, both reports will be presented to be voted upon by the plenary.
“Did TG [Guingona’s nickname] do something wrong when he presented the report? I think not,” Escudero said.
Escudero said the report has long been awaited by the public.
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who’s also a member of the committee, said Guingona sought her go-ahead before he released the unsigned report.
“He had a person ask me if I had any objection and I said no. That is the prerogative of the chairman of the committee,” Santiago said.
“We also want to impress the public that we ourselves are not lacking in zeal and diligence even if we are pursuing charges against our colleagues,” she added.