Senate President Manuel Villar assailed yesterday what he said was the executive department’s apparent and continuing efforts to prevent vital witnesses from appearing before Senate inquiries on irregularities in government.
Villar said testimonies in yesterday’s Senate hearing showed that there was an effort to prevent former Philippine Forest Corp. president Rodolfo Lozada Jr. from testifying before the Senate on the $ 329-million ZTE-National Broadband Network deal.
Villar, questioning Manila International Airport Administration assistant general manager Angel Atutubo, said he took exception to testimonies stating that executive department officials, including law enforcement officials and airport officials, acted to prevent the Senate from taking custody of Lozada.
Speaking at the hearing, Villar said, "Mr. Chairman (addressing Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee).I resent this. Alam mo, kanina pa ako nakikinig dito. Nakita ko na parang merong attitude on the part of our law enforcement people, dito sa ating government officials din, sa executive department, na parang merong tendency na huwag paatendin at tulungan iyong mga ayaw umattend sa Senado. (You know, I have been listening for a long time, I have observed our law enforcement people, and some government officials in the Executive department. They seem to have the tendency to block those invited to Senate hearings and help those who don’t want to attend)."
Villar was referring to Lozada being taken into police custody last Feb. 5 right after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where Senate officials were waiting for him.
Villar said he believes that Lozada was taken against his free will even as government officials insisted that it was Lozada himself who had asked for protection.
"Gusto ko lamang liwanagin, iyong mga parang ililigtas ninyo si Mr. Lozada (I just want to clarify, save Mr. Lozada, from whom? From the Senate?)" Villar asked during the hearing.
He said the executive department’s actuations created the impression that testifying before the Senate is something to be feared and challenged the integrity of the Senate as a democratic institution.
"I would like to clarify that the Senate, when issuing invitations to resource persons to appear before inquiries, is only acting on its duties mandated by the Constitution to provide the system of check and balance in government. We are not here to threaten people. We are doing this in pursuit of the truth," Villar stressed.
The Senate president asked executive department officials to respect Senate invitations while assuring them that whoever comes to the Senate is accorded maximum courtesy.
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