|
Sunday, September 14, 2003
Exec session to determine fate of Jose Pidal probe
IT'S final.
The three Senate committees conducting an investigation on the controversial Jose Pidal accounts would convene on Monday in an executive meeting to resolve issues on whether to terminate or continue the said inquiry.
However, Sen. Joker Arroyo, chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, expressed optimism that the Senate will finish the inquiry in aid of legislation and not just terminate it for other reasons like the alleged clamor from Malacanang to end the probe.
Arroyo earlier assured the public that the inquiry will definitely continue despite many heated arguments and clamors to discontinue the investigation. He said this is because the controversy has become a public issue.
Despite the session break, Arroyo said the committee has managed to gather the senators to discuss the issue.
Aside from the termination of the inquiry, the three committees would also discuss whether or not to allow Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo to continue invoking his right to privacy after the businessman insisted his constitutional rights as a private citizen should be respected.
"We'll come out with the resolution. The problem is that it is very difficult to gather the members around, but we will try to manage," Arroyo said.
On the other hand, Arroyo reiterated his call to Sen. Panfilo Lacson to immediately return to the country and present documents to support his allegations that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Jose Pidal are one and the same.
The authority to travel given to Lacson will end Sunday, September 14, thus, his colleagues expect him to be back at the Senate by Monday to attend the executive session and the next scheduled hearing.
Arroyo reminded Lacson that he should stand as the prosecutor in this case and part of his responsibilities is the presentation of evidence to support his allegations.
Aside from the Blue Ribbon, the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws and the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies are also conducting inquiries on the banking transactions under the Jose Pidal accounts. (JPM)
(September 14, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click
here.
|
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
