Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chair Panfilo Lacson on Monday defended the long-standing procedure in inviting House of Representatives members to hearings, stressing that inter-parliamentary courtesy must be observed in the inquiry into flood control anomalies.
Inter-Parliamentary Courtesy Explained
Lacson said invitations to incumbent members of the House are coursed through the Office of the Speaker, in line with established practice under the bicameral system. He emphasized that this tradition has been observed since the Philippine Congress first operated under a bicameral system. The Senate always courses all invitations to congressmen through the Speaker, he added.
The Blue Ribbon Committee has already sent invitations through the proper channel at least twice, unless lawmakers voluntarily appear before the panel. This clarification came after remarks by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who raised concerns over the conduct of the probe and declined to sign the partial committee report.
Marcoleta's Concerns
Marcoleta questioned the process, stating that he could not determine whether the report was a partial final or provisional report, as there was no signature indicating its source. He noted that the report was provided only through a link for printing and bore a watermark without clear authorization, raising doubts on its origin and proper issuance.
Marcoleta stressed that more hearings and resource persons are needed before he could support the report. He added that the investigation should be exhaustive before any conclusions are drawn. He emphasized that everything must be covered with no stone left unturned, and once everything is established, he will sign.
Call for Former Speaker's Testimony
Marcoleta said recent statements by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez suggest he may be ready to speak on the issue and should be invited by the Senate.
