Journal No. 18 - Senate

390
The ,full text of his statement ,follows:
This Representation would like to manifest
for the Senate, as an institution, to take action on
what transpired last Friday.
As you very well know, last Friday, your
Committee on National DeCense and Security, joint
with the Committee on Constitutional Amend-
ments, Revision of Codes and Laws and the
Committee on Accountability of Public Officers
and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), conducted its
first public hearing on the privilege speeches of
Senators Lacson, Gordon and Defensor Santiago
on the Garci tapes. Out of the six who were
invitedisummoned as resource persons, only
one appeared before the Joint Committees.
Two of those who were not able to attend
belong to the executive department - one,
an active military officer while the other is a
special envoy to the BIMP-EAGA. In the letter
of DND Secretary Teodoro to the Chairmen
of the Joint Committees, citing the Supreme
Court ruling on EO 464, he stated, among
others, that:
P relative to the invitatiou sent to Rear Admiral
Tirso Danga, a request was being made
Cor copies of the intended legislation and
questions that may be propounded in relation
therewith in order to enable Admiral Danga
to intelligently prepare for said hearing; and
B additional time be given by the Joint
Committees for him (Secretary Teodoro) to
seek guidance from the Oftice of the President
for the determination on whether the subject
matter of inquiry falls under the scope of
Executive Privilege.
General Efren Abu, Special Envoy to BIMP-
EAGA, wrote a letter with a similar tenor.
One invited resource person was a member
of the clergy and cited his “religious duties and
pastoral commitments” as reasons for his non-
attendance. The lawyer of another invited resource
person who failed to make it to the bearing
informed the Chairs of the Joint Committees that
they have not been in contact with Attorney
Ong for quite some time now. This Represent-
ation was also informed that Attorney Ong was
facing certain legal impediments to his
appearance before the Senate hearing.
Lastly, the sole resource person who was
issued a subpoena to appear before the Joint
Committees failed to receive said subpoena.
This is according to the report of the Office of
the Sergeant-at-Arms here in the Senate.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER IO. 2007
While the hearing was ongoing, the Joint
Committees were also made aware of a petition
for a TRO and/or a preliminary injunction against
the Senate hearing on the “Garci Tapes.” This
was filed by two retired Justices of the Court of
Appeals.
This is what transpired as far as the hearing
of the Joint Committees on the “Garci Tapes.”
Later in the afternoon last Friday, your
Committee on National Defense and Security
joint with the Committee on Constitutional
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, also
scheduled a public hearing on three proposed
measures:
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Senate Bill No. 31, “An Act Prescribing a
Fixed Term for the Chief Of Staff of the
Armed Forces of The Philippines and for
Other Purposes” (by Senator Biazon);
Senate Bill No. 233, “An Act Amending The
Administrative Code of 1987 by Prohibiting
a Person From Being Appointed as the
Secretary Of National Defense Within Three
(3) Years After Retirement From Active
Duty as Commissioned Officer of a Regular
Component of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines” (by Senator Biazon); and
Senate Bill No. 283, “An Act Amending
Section 42, Chapter 7, Subtitle 11, Title VI11
Of Executive Order No. 292, as Amended,
Otherwise Known as the Administrative Code
of 1987” (by Senator Gordon).
The following were invited by the Joint
Committees as resource persons:
1. HON. GILBERT C. TEODORO
Secretary
Department of National Defense
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
GEN. HERMOGENES C. ESPERON JR. AFP
Chief Of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines
LT. GEN. HORACIO S. TOLENTINO AFP
Commanding General
Philippine Air Force
LT. GEN. KEXANDER P. YANO AFP
Commanding General
Philippine Army
VADM ROGELIO I. CALUNSAG AFP
Flag Officer In Command
Philippine Navy
BGEN. ARTHUR I. TABAQUERO AFP
President
Philippine Military Academy
Alumni Association
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