Senate, House at odds over Bolante

MANILA, Philippines -- Senate President Manny Villar doubts if former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante could attend a hearing by the House of Representatives on Wednesday since no request has been made by the House.

“Sa akin, itong issue ni Joc-Joc Bolante, wala akong request na tinatanggap mula sa anumang office tungkol sa kanya [As far as I am concerned, this issue of Joc-Joc Bolante, I have not received any request from any office about him]. So since wala naman akong tinatanggap na pakiusap o anuman wala ako aaksyunan [So since I have not received any request or anything, I will not act on anything],” Villar said.

“Bukas na ang hearing nila, wala pa akong natatangap na request [Their hearing is tomorrow. I have no received any request]. Palagay ko wala na yun [So I think that will no longer push through],” he said.

Villar maintained that Bolante was under Senate custody and saw no reason at this point to move him out of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where he has been confined since his arrival from the United States last October 27.

And since Bolante is under Senate custody, Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the House should first get the permission of the Senate before the former government official could testify at the lower chamber.

“Of course, they have to get the permission of the Senate,” Pimentel said over the phone.

“An ordinary letter from the Speaker to the Senate President telling about the request. Hindi naman kailangang pag-awayan ito [There is no need to quarrel over this],” he said, explaining the process.

Escudero agreed that there should be a formal letter of request or any official communication from the House requesting the Senate to allow Bolante to testify at the lower chamber.

“Hindi ito question ng unahan, question ito kung sino ang may jurisdiction at yung tamang proseso kaugnay ng ganitong uri ng mga imbestigasyon o hearing doon man sa Kamara o dito sa Senado [This is not a question of who is first, this is a question of who has jurisdiction and that is the proper process in relation to inquiries like these or hearings either at the House or Senate,” he said at a press briefing.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the House would have jurisdiction over Bolante once he would testify there.

“Once he testifies there, pwede siya i-cite [he could be cited] for contempt. Yan ang sinasabi kong inter-chamber courtesy [That is what I call inter-chamber courtesy],” Lacson said.

The senators brought these concerns on the floor.

But instead of fighting over Bolante, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile suggested that Villar should talk to Nograles to settle the matter.

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