Senate hearings given green light to go on even during break

Even during beaks, the Senate may still hold hearings and investigations and even issue subpoenas to any persons or order the production of documents that may be needed in the proceedings.

Before adjourning its session last Wednesday, the chamber adopted Senate Resolution No. 330, authorizing all its regular, oversight and special committees to conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during every recess of the Senate.

The resolution, filed by Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, was aimed at having “continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations and to conduct investigations on issues of national interests to aid in crafting relevant legislation.

“Resolved, further, to authorize the committees to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to any person, corporation, entity or its officers, to testify and/or produce such documents which may be needed in the meetings, hearings or consultations of the Committees,” Sotto said in the resolution.

The committees are also encouraged to immediately file reports based on the outcome of their studies, hearings or investigations and “to regard all pending measures with utmost urgency for the consideration of its immediate passage by the Senate.”

Congress will resume work on May 2. IDL