With Reyes back in PH, Guingona may reopen Senate ‘pork’ probe—Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Senate President Franklin Drilon is leaving it up to the chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee to decide whether or not to reopen its investigation into the pork barrel scam to hear the testimony of lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes.

Reyes is former chief of staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. Both Reyes and Enrile are facing criminal charges in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

“Unang una po, na sa kay Senator Guingona po yan (First and foremost, it’s up to Senator Guingona),” Drilon said in a radio interview on Tuesday when asked if he was in favor to reopen the chamber’s inquiry into the scam.

Guingona is Senator Teofisto Guingona, chairman of the committee, who came up with a draft report recommending the filing of criminal cases against Enrile, Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and several other personalities allegedly involved in the scam.

Drilon said he was not aware if the draft report has been approved by majority members of the committee or if it has been transmitted for plenary actions.

“Ngayon, kung hindi pa po napipirmahan ng majority ng blue ribbon, ibig sabihin hindi pa sarado at nasa kay Senator Guingona po yan kung kanyang bubuksan muli yung pagdidinig sa blue ribbon,” he pointed out.

(Now if it has not been signed yet by the majority members of the blue ribbon, it means that [the hearing] is not yet closed and it’s up to Senator Guingona if he wants to reopen the hearing of the blue ribbon)

Besides, the Senate leader pointed out that the pork scam probe was in aid of legislation and the committee chairman should decide if there was enough basis to recommend any legislation out of the pork scam to prevent the same from happening again.

Senator Serge Osmeña, vice chairman of the committee, said he was able to talk to Guingona Monday but was told that the chairman would like to “interview” first Enrile’s former chief aide.

“Sinabi nya iinterviewhin nya muna si Gigi Reyes ngunit hindi pa nya makontak,” Osmeña said in a separate television interview.

(He said he wants to interview Gigi Reyes first, but he has not yet contacted her.)

Asked if he also favored the reopening of pork probe in the Senate, Osmena said: “Only if the additional information will be given to the committee.”

Otherwise, he said, it would just be a waste of time for the committee to continue with the proceedings and get nothing from the new resource person.

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