Senate arrests 14 resource persons

Senate of the Philippines. Photo courtesy of issue.ph.

MANILA – The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee ordered the arrest of 14 resource persons after they had been cited in contempt last Monday.

The Senate panel cited the 14 persons after they had continued to refuse attending hearings on Vice President Jejomar Binay’s corruption allegations.

Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III, who were the only ones present, recommended the contempt citation of the resource persons.

Cited in contempt were Vice President Binay’s purported ‘dummies’ Gerry Limlingan, Aida Alcantara, Vissia Marie Aldon, Erlinda Chong, Imee Chong, Irene Chong, Irish Chong, Kim Tun Chong, Kimster Chong, Anne Lorraine Buencamino-Tiu, Antonio Tiu and James Tiu.

Originally, 19 resource persons were recommended to be cited in contempt. But after several hearings, only 14 names were presented.

Mario Badillo, Eduviges Baloloy, Tomas Lopez, Line Dela Pena and Bernadette Portallano, who were previously cited in contempt, were later on withdrawn.

Badillo and Lopez vowed to appear before the committee this week.