Umali refutes points in Inquirer editorial about Bilibid probe

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Thursday refuted a Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial that the Bilibid hearing he led was scripted.

In his opening speech before the resumption of the third day of the Bilibid probe, Umali, who chairs the justice committee hearing conducting the inquiry, said he was flattered that he was considered “fair” in the Inquirer editorial “Three moments in the House.”

READ: 3 moments in the House

“I’m really very flattered that the editorial of the Inquirer described me as fair and objective in chairing the most anticipated hearing in the House…But reading the editorial made me feel that’s the only positive thing about the editorial,” Umali said.

“While I respect the view of the editorial board, I wish to take exception to the legislative inquiry as three shining moments in the House,” he added.

Umali denied the claim that the House probe was scripted.

He said there was nothing “unprecedented” when the committee allowed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to interpellate the witnesses, adding that De Lim interpellated her witnesses during the Senate inquiry into the pork barrel scam.

READ: Solon on Aguirre taking over Bilibid probe: De Lima did it too

“Allowing Aguirre to ask direct questions did not mean the committee yielded to a non-member and lost objectivity and fairness,” Umali said.

Umali refuted the editorial’s claim that the Congress is in cahoots with the administration to craft a “bad script” by “overeager” witnesses from the Bilibid who testified that Senator Leila De Lima received drug money from the drug trade there when she was justice secretary.

“We make clear about our duties of upholding the virtues of fairness, objectivity and mutual respect,” Umali said. IDL/rga