Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair TG Guingona together with Senator Koko Pimentel called a meeting of the Blue Ribbon committee members, Monday afternoon. The committee has cited for contempt 17 resource speakers who failed to attend the hearing on the allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday signed the arrest and detention order of 14 resource persons cited in contempt for continued refusal to attend the Senate’s hearings on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Included in the arrest and detention order was Binay’s alleged bagman and dummy, Gerry Limlingan.
The 13 others ordered arrested and detained were the following: Vissia Marie Aldon, Danilo Villas, Aida Alcantara, Hirene Lopez, Irene S. Chong, Imee S. Chong, Kim Tun S. Chong, Irish S. Chong, Erlinda S. Chong, Kimster S. Chong, Anne Lorraine Buencamino-Tiu, James L. Tiu and Antonio L. Tiu.
The arrest order came a day after the Senate blue ribbon committee being headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III upheld Monday its subcommittee’s recommendation to cite the resource persons in contempt.
Drilon said it is necessary to enforce the rules of the Senate otherwise people will not heed the rules, the senator said.
“Importante po ito na maipakita natin na dapat sumunod at tumupad doon sa subpoena ng Senado, otherwise kung hindi po natin ginawa ito, wala na pong susunod sa mga mga subpoena at hindi po namin magagawa ang aming trabaho dahil ang mga resource persons ay babalewalain ang lahat ng pagpatawag ng Senado,” he explained.
On the other hand, University of Makati head and Pag-IBIG board member Prof. Tomas Lopez and Engr. Mario Badillo were not included in the contempt raps after promising the committee they will attend the next hearings. (MNS)