House justice panel chair: Nothing wrong with Aguirre grilling witnesses in House probe

The Plenary Hall, House of Representatives Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City
(Photo: Robert Viñas/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice chair said on Wednesday that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s questioning of witnesses is procedural and not a violation of House rules.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who chairs the House panel conducting the inquiry into the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), said Aguirre was allowed to probe his own witnesses because he does not serve as a legal counsel for them.

“Sec. Aguirre is not the lawyer of the witness. He is the Secretary of Justice who conducted this investigation,” he argued.

Umali also said Aguirre’s questioning was not unprecedented since it happened before in a Senate hearing wherein then Justice Secretary Leila De Lima grilled Benhur Luy, principal whistleblower to the pork barrel scam masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles.

He added that this is how congressional inquiries should be conducted.

The Oriental Mindoro representative further noted that the first day of the proceedings was “well-managed and very orderly.”

Four witnesses including robbery convict Herbert Colanggo, kidnapping convict Rodolfo Magleo, former Bureau of Corrections head Rafael Ragos, and intelligence officer Jovencio Ablen, Jr. were presented before the House panel on Tuesday.

The remaining two witnesses, inmates Noel Martinez and Jaime Patcho, gave their testimonies Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said there are four new witnesses, namely Jojo Baligad, Froilan Trestiza, Hans Anton Tan and Jesusa Francisco, that will testify on Wednesday’s hearing.

Aguirre’s request to grant immunity from suit to the new witnesses was forwarded to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for approval.