Thursday’s resumption of the Senate investigation into the alleged flood control scam was a “non-hearing” and did not officially exist as a Senate proceeding, House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Sunday.
Alonto Adiong said the activity was merely a gathering or meeting among some senators and could not be considered an official committee hearing.
He said the supposed hearing was not called by the new Senate leadership and lacked the Senate personnel needed to formally record the proceedings, during which 18 former soldiers repeated their claim that they delivered funds to certain lawmakers as kickbacks from anomalous or ghost flood-control projects.
“Yung mga character na kailangan, kumbaga indispensable for it to be called an official hearing, tulad halimbawa nung mga regular staff, members from both the minority and the majority–‘yung quorum very important —‘yung committee secretary wala doon, even stenographer wala doon,” he said.
“Hindi yata siya officially naging part ng official record ng Senate. So even if you try to kumbaga try to consider that on the basis of the requirement in their rules, eh hindi mo talaga masasabi na nagkaroon ng hearing,” he said.
Alonto Adiong also noted that no one from the new Senate majority attended the supposed hearing.
“I mean, obviously, kung sa amin lang, talagang hindi siya matatawag na hearing. Baka possible pang meeting among and between, maybe it could be described as meeting between and among friends. But not as an official hearing…walang committee staff, walang record sa Senate,” he said.
He said that, unfortunately for the former soldiers, their statements during the supposed hearing are not part of the Senate’s official record of proceedings.
The Mindanao House leader said he hoped senators would soon resolve their leadership crisis to restore stability in the chamber.
He also lamented that the leadership dispute has deteriorated into personal attacks and recriminations among senators.
“I hope maayos talaga, kasi sabi ko hindi lang ang personal na usapan dito…pati na rin ang institution. So tayo naman, we are hoping sana magkaroon ng semblance of stability na ang Senado,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said he also hoped that whichever faction prevails in the Senate, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would proceed.
He said the House of Representatives has already done its part in the impeachment process and expects the Senate to fulfill its own constitutional duty.
“Wala talaga kaming option but to hear the complaint dun sa pinasa against the Vice President. In the same manner ng Senado being part of their constitutional duty, wala talagang option but to try and decide,” he said.
“So ang sa atin lang naman, hindi lang miyembro ng Kamara but bilang isang citizen of this country, bilang isang Pilipino, we are hoping that there will be stability in the coming days d’yan po sa Senado,” Alonto Adiong added.