Senate cool to ‘mother of all probes,’ says Cayetano

A proposed “mother of all investigations” is encountering resistance in the administration-dominated Senate.

Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said some of his colleagues were cool to the idea of starting another inquiry into alleged fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections.

Asked what the reason could be, Cayetano told reporters: “I think because it’s a web of corruption and so many people are involved.

“There are also concerns rather than fears that the investigation will get out of hand or will reach unintended victims.

“The problem is the previous administration probably still has allies who are still or who used to be with the Senate, and they might also be hit.”

Cayetano said his proposed inquiry could not be limited to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, the alleged architect of the 2004 election fraud.

“People have to realize that you cannot have a laser-targeted investigation,” he said. “You cannot target only the former President and Garci. The target has to be general. Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan, wag magagalit (Let the chips fall where they may).”

Cayetano and Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier filed separate resolutions calling for an inquiry into alleged election fraud during the term of Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative.

But unlike Cayetano, Lacson said he would withdraw his resolution and just leave the investigation in the hands of the joint committee formed by the Department of Justice and the Commission on Elections.

“This will be the mother of all investigations,” Cayetano said of his move to have the Senate blue ribbon committee conduct a parallel inquiry.

He said the resolution had been sitting with the committee chaired by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, an ally of President Aquino, for about two weeks now.