Legal consequences may loom for those who gave “testimonies” as well as for other participants at the bogus Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano last Thursday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
The participants in the so-called hearing, including senators from the now-minority bloc, may not invoke parliamentary immunity since it was not an official Senate proceeding, Lacson said.
“Yes, they can be charged, possibly for cyber libel and other crimes since it was a bogus hearing and no parliamentary immunity may be invoked, not even the senators who participated,” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Lumahok sa Pekeng Pagdinig, Pwedeng Kasuhan
Last Thursday, the minority held a “hearing” at the Senate session hall, with 18 ex-soldiers “testifying” and linking various personalities to the delivery of cash through suitcases.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo had scheduled the hearing on the flood control scandal for June 8, Monday.
Cyber libel may be among the possible charges that may be filed against the 18 former soldiers who gave “testimonies” at the purported “hearing.”
Meanwhile, public officials who took part in the event may also face charges such as usurpation of authority or official functions. Under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, any person who knowingly performs official acts without lawful authority may be punished with prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods.
Lacson said those offended by the claims made at Thursday’s event have a strong case, unless the Supreme Court overturns the Avelino v Cuenco ruling and invalidates the actions taken by the new majority after the leadership change last Wednesday.
The June 3 leadership change came after Sen. Francis Escudero joined the 11 then-minority members in that day’s session. The now-majority cited the Avelino v Cuenco ruling in asserting that there was a quorum that allowed them to declare all positions vacant and elect new officers.
“Only if the SC will overturn the Avelino vs Cuenco ruling and invalidate the action taken by the 12 senators last Wednesday, those who were offended in yesterday’s event have a good case,” he said.
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Lacson: Mga Lumahok sa Pekeng Pagdinig, Pwedeng Kasuhan
Posibleng humarap sa kaso ang mga nagbigay ng “testimonya” at iba pang lumahok sa pekeng Blue Ribbon Committee hearing na pinangunahan ng disgrasyadong ex-Senate President na si Alan Peter Cayetano noong Huwebes, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes.
Ayon kay Lacson, walang parliamentary immunity na pwedeng gamitin ng mga lumahok sa pekeng pagdinig, pati na ang mga senador mula sa kasalukuyang minority bloc na lumahok dito, dahil hindi ito opisyal na pagdinig ng Senado.
“They can be charged, possibly for cyber libel and other crimes since it was a bogus hearing and no parliamentary immunity may be invoked, not even the senators who participated,” ani Lacson.
Noong Huwebes, nagsagawa ng “hearing” ang minority sa session hall ng Senado, kung saan 18 dating sundalo ang “nagpatotoo” at nag-ugnay sa iba’t ibang personalidad sa umano’y paghahatid ng pera gamit ang mga maleta.
Nauna nang itinakda ni Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Erwin Tulfo ang pormal na pagdinig sa flood control scandal sa Hunyo 8, Lunes.
Kabilang ang cyber libel sa mga posibleng kasong maaaring isampa laban sa 18 dating sundalo na nagbigay ng “testimonya” sa naturang “pagdinig.”
Samantala, maaaring humarap ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno na lumahok sa naturang pagtitipon sa mga kaso tulad ng usurpation of authority or official functions. Sa ilalim ng Artikulo 177 ng Revised Penal Code, ang sinumang sadyang gumaganap ng mga opisyal na tungkulin nang walang legal na kapangyarihan ay maaaring mapatawan ng prision correccional sa minimum at medium periods nito.
Giit ni Lacson, may matibay na kaso ang mga naagrabyado sa mga pahayag sa naturang pagtitipon – maliban na lang kung baligtarin ng Korte Suprema ang desisyon sa Avelino v Cuenco at ideklarang walang bisa ang mga aksyon ng bagong mayorya matapos ang pagbabago sa liderato noong nakaraang Miyerkules.
Nangyari ang pagbabago sa liderato noong Hunyo 3 matapos sumama si Sen. Francis Escudero sa 11 miyembro ng dating minority sa sesyon ng araw na iyon. Ginamit ng ngayo’y mayorya ang desisyon sa Avelino v Cuenco upang igiit na may quorum, na nagbigay-daan para ideklarang bakante ang lahat ng posisyon at maghalal ng bagong mga opisyal.
“Only if the SC will overturn the Avelino vs Cuenco ruling and invalidate the action taken by the 12 senators last Wednesday, those who were offended in yesterday’s event have a good case,” aniya.
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