Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday raised concerns over “procedurally infirm” motions made on the Senate floor shortly after the change of leadership in the chamber last Monday.
Lacson questioned the move to cite in contempt of the Senate the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who pursued Sen. Ronald dela Rosa through the Senate hallways Monday – and a separate move to amend the Senate rules without referring it first to the Committee on Rules.
“Procedurally incorrect or infirm ang ating ginawa. Kaya ko lang pino-point out para i-correct lang natin ang ating sarili (What was done was procedurally incorrect or infirm. I am pointing it out so we can correct it in the future),” he said in his manifestation at Tuesday’s regular session.
In Filipino: Lacson, Tinukoy ang mga Procedural Lapses sa Senate Motions Ukol sa Contempt, Pagbabago ng mga Alituntunin
But he stressed that his manifestation should not be mistaken to be a show of sympathy for the NBI agents concerned, as dela Rosa is a fellow Cavalier of the Philippine Military Academy and his former subordinate in the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).
“Let it be placed on record that my manifestation does not in any way show sympathy with the NBI agents who grappled with our colleague here. In the first place, Senator De La Rosa is a fellow cavalier, not to mention a former subordinate in the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, and he’s a fellow senator. So just to set the record straight,” he said.
Lacson cited Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in pointing out that individuals accused by Congress of giving false or evasive testimony during committee hearings must be accorded strict due process protections.
In the case of the NBI agents, he said they should have been asked to explain first before being cited in contempt of the Senate, and thereafter taken under the custody of the Senate.
Lacson questioned as well the motion made by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta proposing that Rule 14, Section 41B of the Senate Rules be amended by including a new Section 41C. He pointed out any proposed rule change must be referred first to the Committee on Rules.
“While I commend the Senate President for deferring action on the motion of (Sen. Marcoleta), but still, we should bear in mind that if we amend our rules, necessarily we should refer it to the Committee on Rules. We cannot just decide in plenary to right there and then amend the rules. If I am correct in that regard, Mr. President,” he said.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano replied: “You’re not only correct. That’s what happened. I referred it to the Committee on Rules.”
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Lacson, Tinukoy ang mga Procedural Lapses sa Senate Motions Ukol sa Contempt, Pagbabago ng mga Alituntunin
Nagpahayag ng pangamba si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes hinggil sa mga “procedurally infirm” na mosyong inihain sa plenaryo ng Senado matapos ang pagpalit ng liderato nito noong nakaraang Lunes.
Kinuwestiyon ni Lacson ang mosyong i-cite in contempt of the Senate ang mga ahente ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na humabol kay Sen. Ronald dela Rosa sa mga pasilyo ng Senado noong Lunes – gayundin ang hiwalay na mosyon na amyendahan ang mga alituntunin ng Senado nang hindi muna ito ipinauubaya sa Committee on Rules.
“Procedurally incorrect or infirm ang ating ginawa. Kaya ko lang pino-point out para i-correct lang natin ang ating sarili,” aniya sa kanyang manifestation sa regular na sesyon nitong Martes.
Gayunman, iginiit niyang hindi dapat ipakahulugan ang kanyang manifestation bilang pakikisimpatya sa mga ahente ng NBI, dahil si dela Rosa ay kapwa niya Cavalier ng Philippine Military Academy at dati niyang tauhan sa Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).
“Let it be placed on record that my manifestation does not in any way show sympathy with the NBI agents who grappled with our colleague here. In the first place, Senator De La Rosa is a fellow cavalier, not to mention a former subordinate in the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, and he’s a fellow senator. So just to set the record straight,” aniya.
Binanggit din ni Lacson si Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo sa pagbibigay-diin na ang mga indibidwal na inaakusahan ng Kongreso ng pagbibigay ng maling o paligoy-ligoy na testimonya sa mga pagdinig ng komite ay dapat pagkalooban ng mahigpit na proteksiyon sa ilalim ng due process.
Sa kaso ng mga ahente ng NBI, sinabi niyang dapat muna silang pinagsumite ng paliwanag bago i-cite in contempt of the Senate at ilagay sa kustodiya ng Senado.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Lacson ang mosyon ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na amyendahan ang Rule 14, Section 41B ng Senate Rules sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng bagong Section 41C. Iginiit niyang ang anumang panukalang pagbabago sa mga alituntunin ay dapat munang i-refer sa Committee on Rules.
“While I commend the Senate President for deferring action on the motion of (Sen. Marcoleta), but still, we should bear in mind that if we amend our rules, necessarily we should refer it to the Committee on Rules. We cannot just decide in plenary to right there and then amend the rules. If I am correct in that regard, Mr. President,” aniya.
Tumugon naman si Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano: “You’re not only correct. That’s what happened. I referred it to the Committee on Rules.”
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