A
story in inquirer.net says
Senate President Franklin Drilon has left it to the Ombudsman to decide whether
or not Janet Lim Napoles could testify at the blue ribbon committee’s inquiry
into the P10-billion pork barrel scam, for which she is facing plunder charges.
Drilon said the Senate
must respect the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman over the case and
its rules, particularly that which says “publicity is to be avoided or
prohibited wherein her judgment can prejudice the case.”
The Ombudsman probe is
for alleged illegal acts related to the scam. The Senate investigation is in
aid of legislation. Anyway you look at it, these are TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
PURPOSES.
So why must a THOROUGH
and TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE (hopefully) Senate probe be DEPENDENT on the
Ombudsman?
Especially considering
the fact that the Ombudsman WILL NOT DECIDE on the plunder case against Napoles
BASED ON WHAT SHE’LL SAY in a Senate hearing.
But on the evidence
submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Unless, there is a law or
rule which says a Senate testimony has or should have more evidentiary value
for the Ombudsman, to the point of affecting her judgment on a case, than
documentary and other physical evidence.
Drilon said under Rule 5
of the Ombudsman’s Rules of Procedure which says pending resolution, decision
or action on a complaint, grievance or request for action, “no publicity shall
be made of matters which may adversely affect national security or public
interest, prejudice the safety of witnesses or the disposition of the case, or
unduly expose persons complained against to ridicule or public censure.”
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW if
what Napoles will say in a Senate hearing will adversely affect national
security or public interest UNLESS SHE’S ALLOWED TO TALK.
If the Ombudsman will not allow Napoles to
testify in a Senate hearing on the basis of Rule 5, it will be PREMATURE at the
very least and SUSPICIOUS at the worst.
Simply because it will
imply that they know in advance what Napoles will say, when it’s the SENATORS
WHO WILL QUESTION HER in the hearing and NOT ANYONE from the Ombudsman.
If Napoles would be
barred from attending the Senate hearing on Thursday, believe me guys, ONLY GOD
WOULD KNOW when she’ll talk.
Pray hard, people, that we’re
not headed for a SUPPRESSION of the TRUTH on the pork barrel scam, which only
Napoles can provide or be extracted from her.30
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