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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Senate orders arrest of gov't execs for failure to attend probe
THE Senate committees on government corporations and public enterprises and on public services on Monday issued arrest warrants against officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and a government corporation for failing to appear in an investigation.
Under arrest for direct contempt are PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio and Commissioners Ricardo Abcede, Nicasio Conti, Tereso Javier and Narciso Nario, Benito Araneta, Philcomsat Holdings Corporation board chairman; Philip Brodett, Philcomsat vice president; Manuel Andal; Philcomsat treasurer; and Philcomsat directors Julio Jalandoni and Luis Lokin Jr.
Fourteen senators led by Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on government corporations, and Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas III, vice chairman of the committee, and both members of the Senate committee on public services, signed the order.
The four-page order directed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia Jr. to arrest and detain the PCGG and Philcomsat officials in his office for their continued refusal to appear in the Senate investigation into the alleged looting of Philcomsat assets.
The order however still needs the signature of Senate President Manuel Villar who is still in Korea before it can be enforced.
The Senate committees on government corporations and public enterprises and on public services issued a subpoena for the 10 officials to appear on Monday's hearing but they still ignored the invitation.
Sabio, Abcede, Conti, Javier and Nario, who occupy seats at Philcomsat, have invoked Executive Order 1 issued in February 1986 by then President Corazon Aquino in snubbing the Senate invitation.
The executive order provides that "no member or staff of the commission shall be required to testify or produce evidence in any judicial, legislative or administrative proceeding concerning matters within its official cognizance."
The PCGG officials as well as Philcomsat personnel allegedly enjoy lavish salary compensations, benefits and other perks. (REC/Sunnex)
(September 12, 2006 issue)
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