The fine-toothed comb of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects will focus on substance and substantial issues and not on distractions, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Saturday.
Lacson said that in the case of the statement of “witness” Orly Guteza, which he read while under oath during the Blue Ribbon panel’s hearing last Thursday, what should be considered is the substance of the affidavit.
“What should be considered is the substance of the affidavit, that, unless refuted, and if corroborated, may be treated as sufficient evidence against those implicated by Guteza,” Lacson said..
“As far as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is concerned, Guteza … made his statements under oath so it’s fine with us,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DWIZ radio.
In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Committee, Tututok sa ‘Substantial’ na Isyu
Lacson said that the only issue with Guteza would be that if he is found to have lied in having his affidavit notarized, his testimony would become suspect.
Otherwise, he said the issue of a possible violation in the notarized document is in the territory of the office of the Executive Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), which is expected to investigate the matter. Based on the affidavit submitted by Guteza to the Blue Ribbon Committee, the office of Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, whose signature and details were on the document, is in Ermita, Manila.
Lacson added that if the Blue Ribbon Committee were to act on “issues” related to the notarization – such as subpoenaing the notarial register of the lawyer whose signature appeared on Guteza’s statement – “malilihis kami ng malilihis (we will only be distracted).”
“So we will leave the issue to the executive judge of the Manila RTC,” Lacson pointed out.
When asked if the Blue Ribbon Committee sees the need to invite Atty. Espera, Lacson said there is none, at least for now.
“The Office of the Executive Judge of the Manila RTC will investigate. We will likely ask for a copy of its findings, if Guteza was telling the truth or not,” he said.
“The issue now with Guteza is whether he lied in his claim that he had the statement notarized. If he is found out to be lying, then the other statements he made may be suspected to be false,” he added.
House Members’ Possible Appearance
In another interview on DWIZ, Lacson reiterated that there is no issue in giving House members implicated during the hearings a chance to air their side, if they so choose. He said these include former Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Elizaldy Co.
He said that if the Senate sees the need to invite the House members concerned, it would course the invitation via a letter from the Senate leadership through Senate President Vicente Sotto III to the House leadership through Speaker Faustino Dy III, as inter-parliamentary courtesy applies not to individual members but the institution they represent.
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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Committee, Tututok sa ‘Substantial’ na Isyu
Ang mga mahahalagang isyu lamang ang tututukan ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa imbestigasyon nito sa katiwalian sa likod ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Giit ni Lacson, sa kaso ng sinumpaang salaysay ni Orly Guteza – na kanyang binasa habang “under oath” sa komite sa pagdinig nito nitong Huwebes – ang importante ay ang laman ng kanyang salaysay.
“What should be considered is the substance of the affidavit, that, unless refuted, and if corroborated, may be treated as sufficient evidence against those implicated by Guteza,” diin ni Lacson nitong Sabado.
“Sa Blue Ribbon Committee, under oath ang salaysay niya.. sa Blue Ribbon, okay na rin ‘yan,” dagdag niya sa panayam sa DWIZ radio.
Giit ni Lacson, ang tanging usapin kay Guteza ay kung napatunayan na nagsinungaling ito sa kanyang pahayag tungkol sa pagpapa-notaryo, dahil kung gayon ay maaaring madungisan ang kabuuan ng kanyang testimonya.
Bukod dito, aniya, ang isyu ng posibleng paglabag sa notarized document ay saklaw na ng tanggapan ng Executive Judge ng Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), na inaasahang iimbestigahan ito. Ayon sa affidavit na sinumite ni Guteza sa Blue Ribbon Committee, ang tanggapan ni Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, na ang lagda at detalye ay nasa dokumento, ay nasa Ermita, Manila.
Dagdag ni Lacson, kung ang Blue Ribbon Committee ay kikilos pa tungkol sa mga isyu kaugnay ng notarization — gaya ng pag-subpoena ng notarial register ng abogadong ang pirma ay lumitaw sa affidavit ni Guteza —“malilihis kami ng malilihis.”
“So ipapaubaya sa executive judge ng Manila RTC, siya na magsagawa kasi sa poder na niya yan,” ani Lacson.
Nang tinanong kung kailangan pa ba ng Blue Ribbon Committee na imbitahin si Atty. Espera, tinugon ni Lacson na hindi ito kailangan sa ngayon.
“May office ng Executive Judge ng Manila RTC. Sila na ang magimbestiga at hihingi kami ng kopya ng kung anong resulta, kung totoong humarap si Guteza, o siya ay nagsisinungaling,” aniya.
“Ang issue dito kung nagsinungaling ka… at mapatunayan later on (na) nagsinungaling ka sa aspeto ng isa, pwedeng paghinalaang nagsinungaling ka sa lahat,” dagdag niya.
Pagdalo ng Taga-Kamara
Sa hiwalay na panayam sa DWIZ, iginiit ni Lacson na walang problema kung nais ng miyembro ng Kamara na pinangalanan sa mga pagdinig na magkaroon ng pagkakataong ipahayag ang kanilang panig. Aniya, kabilang dito sina dating Speaker Martin Romualdez art Rep. Elizaldy Co.
Ani Lacson, kung kakailanganin, maaaring idaan ang imbitasyon sa pamamagitan ng sulat mula kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III kay House Speaker Faustino Dy III, dahil ang inter-parliamentary courtesy ay hindi para sa indibidwal na miyembro ng Kamara kundi sa institusyong kinakatawan nila.
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