“If they voluntarily appear (on Thursday), I will move for the withdrawal of my recommendation to cite them in contempt. Or maybe on Monday, if they will make [a] commitment that they will appear in future hearings, ganun po yun. Basta nobody wants to cite anybody in contempt but if it is necessary, we will have to do it,” Pimentel told reporters.
Pimentel chairs the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee which has been holding public hearings on the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.
- Binay
- City Administrator Eleno Mendoza
- University of Makati president Tomas Lopez
- Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy
- former City Administrator Marjorie de Veyra
- Engineer Line Dela Peña
- Bernadette Portallano
Pimentel’s committee had issues several invitations, subpoena, and show cause orders to the seven personalities but all were ignored.
The subcommittee is set to resume its hearing on controversial Makati building on Thursday morning.
“They have been ignoring more than five subpoenas, from two to five subpoenas. Sobra na po yun. They have forced the Senate,” Pimentel said.
“Yung power to cite persons in contempt, sparingly used yan e. Madali magpatawad ang mga ahensya na gustong magpacontempt for as long as you show respect and remorse, repentance na nagkamali kayo sa pag-ignore ng subpoena and then you appear, kahit korte ay nagpapatawad,” he added.
In a separate interview, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the main committee, said that it will depend on Pimentel if he would pursue with his recommendation or not.
“Depende yan sa sasabihin ng chairman, si Sen. Koko Pimentel. Kung sasasabihin nya na OK na at wala nang contemptuous act, then pwede na i-let go. It just has to be manifested in the meeting,” he said.
The committee is set to meet on Monday to discuss Pimentel’s recommendation.
He said the committee only needs two votes, tantamount to quorum, to affirm the recommendation.
But if there are different views, the side which has the most number of votes will prevail.
Guingona said they will also discuss during the meeting the penalty they will give if they decide to cite the six personalities in contempt.
“We will talk about (the penalty) also. Anything is possible. Somebody can ask for a reconsideration, anything is possible. Basta it has be taken in the meeting and duly voted upon. What is important is we follow the procedures here in accordance with the rules,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News
