Lacson opposes probing alleged WB loan misuse amid impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday warned his colleagues against investigating the Supreme Court’s alleged misuse of a portion of a $21.9-billion World Bank loan side-by-side the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“I don’t think it’s practical to conduct a simultaneous investigation when the very issue that would be tackled might put on the spot the impeached official,” he told reporters in Filipino.

“My worry, my concern is we might wittingly or unwittingly appear prosecutorial and it won’t augur well to our position as senator-judges because we’re the ones conducting the trial.”

Sen. Franklin Drilon, a staunch ally of President Aquino, earlier filed a resolution asking the oversight committee on public expenditures to investigate alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Judicial Support Reform Project.

The program was funded by a loan from the World Bank, which is now demanding a $199,900 refund. It said “70 payments” were considered unauthorized under the JSRP.

Lacson noted that the Drilon resolution was calling for an investigation to be conducted by a committee headed by Drilon himself. In this case, he said Drilon would most likely schedule a hearing, which would require the presence of only a second member of the committee to have a quorum.

“It’s up to the individual senators who would provide quorum for him. Me, I don’t think I will participate in that hearing,” said Lacson, who prefers that the investigation be conducted after the impeachment trial.

Should Drilon refuse to heed his call, Lacson said the investigation should have a “very clear delineation” on what specific issues it could cover on the World Bank loan.

But he conceded that doing so would be tough, noting that “anything goes” in Senate investigations.