MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on rules on Tuesday failed to decide on the validity of the arrest and detention order against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and five other resource persons.
Instead, the committee decided to meet again on Wednesday to discuss the matter, its chairman, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, said.
“Gusto lang naming e-exhaust lahat ng discussion dito kasi hindi lang ito applicable kay Mayor Binay, sa lahat ng committee, ng iko-contempt, sa lahat ng sina-subpoena…,” Cayetano said.
“We just want everyone to have a day to be able to review the rules pero katulad ng sinabi ko kung naniniwala naman tayong lahat na you’re not above the law, kung naniniwala ka na public official ka, ay dapat kang sumagot. Bakit hindi na lang kasi mag-attend at sumagot?” he further said.
He said his committee will vote on Wednesday on the questions raised by acting Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III regarding the rules used by the Senate blue ribbon committee when it cited Binay and the five other resource persons in contempt and ordered them detained for their refusal to face its subcommittee’s investigation into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 carpark building.
“I hope they don’t get me wrong. I am not for or against the contempt issue. I am after the procedures,” Sotto said in a text message.
“Rules should be followed, not misinterpreted,” he added.
Sotto argued that if the proceeding conducted by the blue ribbon committee Monday was a meeting, then the quorum should be seven of its member, and the majority should have been four.
But if the proceeding was a hearing, then he said the decision of the chairman of the committee with the concurrence of at least one of its members would be enough to cite any witness in contempt.