I'm very annoyed how some of the senators act nowadays.
This is an excerpt from a news report in inquirer:
Retired police comptroller Eliseo Dela Paz admitted Saturday sole responsibility for the alleged unauthorized release of the P6.9 million from the Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence fund.
But Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago refused to believe Dela Paz's claim, which she called "heroic."
"Your own office, Mr. Dela Paz, is saying that you are guilty of violating applicable laws when you ordered, and verbally at that, the release of P7 million. Do you agree or not?" Santiago said.
"I agree your honor," Dela Paz said.
Santiago was citing the results of the PNP initial investigation into the Moscow incident, which stated that "The only basis for the release of P7 million from the confidential intelligence fund from the PNP was the verbal instruction of Police Director Dela Paz. Therefore it could not be denied that irregularity attended the use of government funds."
"Do you agree that your superior official, such as the PNP chief [Director General Jesus Verzosa] and the DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] secretary [Ronaldo Puno] should be absolved, and instead, all blame and guilt should be pinned on you? Do you agree with this situation? Because in effect that is the consequence of this statement in the PNP report" Santiago asked.
"The release of the P10 million for the travel expenses for the supposedly contingency fund is based on my instructions," Dela Paz said.
"That's very heroic. You are assuming all guilt. But I have to tell you as a lawyer and a former trial judge that you are facing a regular sentence of 20 years or more than that. Are you ready to do that? Go to jail 20 years, leave your wife your child, your vision impaired child, just so other people can be free? Because I refuse to believe, Mr. Dela Paz, that you are the sole perpetrator of the crime or offenses stated in these two reports. I believe you are part of a bigger conspiracy and that…you are willing to assume responsibility for others. That seems for me to be the most humanitarian view of the situation," Santiago said.
read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081115-172406/Dela-Paz-takes-blame-for-Moscow-mess
Section 21, Article VI of the Constitution reads:
"The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in, or affected by, such inquiries shall be respected." It is very clear that the respective committees of senate has the power to conduct investigations on any matter provided that it is in the aid of legislation. Some of us are amazed on the superbness on how the senate conducts its investigation. There are two famous investigation at our present times: The ZTE issue and the Fertilizer Scam issue. And now, the issue of General De La Paz. There are no indicators that these senators are making these investigations in aid of legislation. Why are they conducting these hearings? The always answer is to know the truth. Then, where is the legislation then? Nothing I suppose. I'm not opposing the idea that knowing the truth is not important. But this things should be made in the proper forum. The proper forum for these should be the ombudsman and the courts. The result of senate investigation will not hold any bearing at all because first of all SENATE IS NOT COURT. SENATE IS A LEGISLATIVE BODY AND NOT JUDICIARY. Senate can only be judiciary in nature when in time of an impeachment trial. Currently, the Office of the Ombudsman (which I know, the proper agency for that) is conducting currently the investigation on the issue of Police Director De La Paz. If the senate is also conducting an investigation, IT IS REDUNDANT AND JUST WASTING TALENT AND RESOURCES. There are alleged secret intent why some senators are conducting those investigations. One of those is for the sake of political marketing which they easily exposed to media when investigating on those such contreversial matters. The 2010 elections is fast approaching. You know what I mean. My last concern that really annoyed mo is the statement of Senator Santiago address to Police Director De La Paz:
"Go to jail 20 years, leave your wife your child, your vision impaired child, just so other people can be free? "
It's very personal and unethical... Pati 'yung pamilya niya dinamay pa. Maybe, some of you will say that I wrote this entry because a friend of mine is affected. I not saying that Police Director De La Paz is guilty or not in that matter because the investigation of the ombudsman is not yet through. Pero kahit saan niyo tingnan from legal basis, political science basis or even moral basis, maling-mali talaga ang gingawa nila... Kelan kaya magbabago ang pouitika sa Pilipinas?
My grades are not that high. The only information that I will give is that I don't have a failing mark and I'm not in probation. My QPI is above 78 (QPI below 78 will be subject to probation).
My grades are not that high. The only information that I will give is that I don't have a failing mark and I'm not in probation. My QPI is above 78 (QPI below 78 will be subject to probation).
