Cayetano bloc hearing will just be free speech expression, says Luistro
MANILA, Philippines — While nothing prevents the group led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano from holding a discussion on the flood control scandal, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro believes it will just be an exercise in freedom of expression, since it would not receive the approval of the Senate leadership.
In a press conference on Monday, Luistro and other members of the prosecution team for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial were asked about the Cayetano bloc’s plans to hold a hearing of the blue ribbon committee outside the Senate premises.
In response, Luistro said that, for a hearing to be considered an inquiry in aid of legislation, it would have to secure the approval of the Senate leadership, which she said is under acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.
“What they will do, perhaps you can charge that to freedom of expression. But in as far as legitimate inquiry and aid of legislation is concerned, let us remember that we have the new leadership in the Senate,” Luistro said.
“Everything that they should do in order that it will fall within the purview of a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation, it must be sanctioned by the leadership. Nonetheless, with all due respect to them, it is a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression,” she added.
There have been rumors that Cayetano’s group will hold a blue ribbon committee hearing on Tuesday, June 16, but incumbent chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo said that no hearing has been scheduled — contrary to the social media post of former House lawmaker Mike Defensor.
READ: Tulfo: No authorized Senate blue ribbon panel hearing on June 16
Prosecution team member and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said that the panel does not want to be involved in the Senate leadership issue, but what the House of Representatives, Malacañang, and other legal luminaries recognize as the legitimate Senate leadership is that of Gatchalian’s group.
READ: Marcos recognizes Gatchalian as Senate leader in Independence Day speech
“If I may add, the prosecutors will not muddle ourselves, muddle our time with the Senate leadership issues. But we recognize the leadership of Senate President Pro Tempore Gatchalian as this has been recognized by Malacañang, by all law schools, by law professors, justices of the Supreme Court,” Zamora explained.
“As of the moment, we have been following the leadership of Senator Gatchalian, and in fact, we submitted our pleadings before the impeachment court under his leadership. Thus, while we recognize that it is within their right to hold such meetings outside the Senate, they may do so, of course — but then again, we follow the leadership of Senator Gatchalian,” she added.
For prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, the hearing is a mere public relations (PR) stunt to divert the people’s attention from the impeachment.
“I don’t think even within the Senate, the current leadership now sanctioned this parallel blue ribbon investigation; it only validates our previous observation that this is just a PR stunt to divert the attention of the public from the issue of impeachment,” he said.
“So, I think it’s just a diversionary tactic, if you ask me, my humble observation, to create a parallel issue that actually would, in a way, sway the attention of the public. But the public knows that the promoter concern now of the Senate since they have already convened as an impeachment court is to exercise their exclusive power granted to them by the Constitution,” he added.
The Senate has been hit by leadership issues in recent weeks.
The split between Gatchalian and Cayetano’s camps started after members of the then-Minority bloc under Gatchalian and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III walked out of the session after the majority, led by Cayetano and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, pushed for the discussion of a proposed amendment to the Senate rules.
If approved, the amendment — made by Marcoleta through a motion — would have allowed online voting for senators who are not physically present during plenary deliberations. The Minority, before walking out, questioned the rush to amend the rules and as to why the amendment was contained in a motion instead of a formal resolution.
In retaliation, the Cayetano bloc did not attend the session on June 1 and 2. On June 3, House lawmakers like Deputy Speaker Albee Benitez said that the Senate was on the verge of violating the Constitution, as there is a provision stating that the Senate cannot adjourn its session for more than three days without informing the House.
READ: Senate would have violated charter if no session held for third day — solons
This scenario was avoided after Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who is part of Cayetano’s bloc, showed up, giving the Senate a quorum to hold a session. Positions were also declared vacant, paving the way for Gatchalian’s election as Senate President Pro Tempore and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri’s being picked as the majority leader.
Gatchalian justified that 12 senators are already a majority under the condition that only 22 out of 24 senators are available — since Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was detained on plunder raps while Senator Ronald dela Rosa is considered a fugitive.
READ: Dy congratulates Gatchalian, says fully functioning Senate needed
But a day after the changes at the Senate, Cayetano’s bloc pushed with a blue ribbon committee hearing, where the 18 former bodyguards of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co testified to reiterate the accusations they made last February.
On June 8, the Gatchalian bloc held its own blue ribbon committee, but the 18 former bodyguards did not show up.
Luistro was previously asked as to which camp the prosecution would adhere to should both Cayetano and Gatchalian send notices for the impeachment proceedings. The lawmaker said that since the House, through Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, congratulated Gatchalian, they will follow this lead.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also acknowledged Gatchalian as the leader of the Senate during his Independence Day speech. /cb /atm
