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PUNO
PASAY CITY – Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago has ended the probe on resigned Interior Secretary Rico Puno after grilling him for almost three hours on alleged raid of Secretary Jesse Robredo’s condominium, jueteng and the Philippine National Police firearms deal.
”This hearing is dismissed,” Santiago said Friday before banging the gavel to end the Senate inquiry by her committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws.
Santiago told a news briefing there is no need for her to file committee recommendation.
But the inquiry will be part of the committee records in aid of legislation for possible amendments of the Administrative Code and the law that created the Department of Interior and Local Government.
”I can already draw conclusion because I’m a former RTC judge — from what I heard and this will be put on the record of the committee. I will no longer make recommendation because anyway it will not be approved by my colleagues because they snubbed me,”” Santiago said and then laughed.
Santiago took exemption to Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen Aquilino Pimentel III who responded to her appeal to show up to meet the quorum.
Santiago opened the inquiry by justifying the validity of her action to conduct inquiry even without filing a resolution or a privilege speech that could have prompted the Senate majority leader to refer it to the proper committee.
She cited provisions in the Senate rules of procedures that support her decision to conduct the probe.
In his opening statement, Puno denied the allegations that he raided and ransacked the condominium of former DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, saying he was only there upon order of President Benigno Aquino III to secure sensitive public documents after Robredo died in a plane crash.
Puno clarified he had no direct control of the PNP but, in a document read by Santiago, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. granted Puno direct control over PNP.
”There is contradiction on the statement of Ochoa that Mr. Puno has complete control over, I think the exact word is ‘direct control over PNP’ and Mr. Puno’s claim that he never participated directly in the PNP. That is one anomaly I noted in his testimony,” Santiago said.
Santiago said she would examine the possibility of amending the Administrative Code and the DILG Act.
“Under the Administrative Code, the secretary has full control and supervision. Supervision simply means the power to see to it that your subordinates under you by law while in the DILG act if there is need to change because of the unique authority of Mr. Puno,” Santiago said.
Puno also denied allegations in an email received by Santiago that Puno will be appointed to the Bureau of Customs.
”That’s not true your honor,” Puno said.
Santiago said she won’t make judgment whether or not Puno was telling the truth.
”I’m talking of the demeanor of the witness. Now the Filipino people saw him, we can see that even without hard evidence if the allegations against him are true or not,” she said.
Archbishop Oscar Cruz told the committee that ‘jueteng’ and 30 other forms of illegal number games are still existing even after the appointment of Puno as undersecretary for peace and order.
PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome admitted jueteng still exists “because of the arrests that we have.”
Santiago said jueteng will be stopped if the national leaders will have political will to order all the local leaders to eliminate the illegal gambling game.
Puno quickly responded ‘none’ when Santiago asked him if he received protection money from jueteng lords.
Puno said that even the DILG Secretary and Malacanang do not receive jueteng payola.
Santiago asked Bartolome to identify the jueteng lords but the PNP chief asked the committee to reveal them in an executive session.
”We will hold later an executive session because PNP Chief Bartolome requested for it,” she said.
Santiago also grilled Puno on his alleged intervention in the bidding process for the procurement of nearly 60,000 firearms after the former DILG official gathered the firearms bidders and ordered them not to complain.
”He admitted that he gathered all the suppliers and ordered them not to complaint as it may result in failed bidding. If that is not interfering or participating, I don’t know what is,” Santiago said.
”Let me just say that while appreciate his presence here because we are offering him a chance to clear his name, I can’t understand what he’s talking,” she added.
Santiago said she would no longer take action against the invited Cabinet members who did not show up.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and upcoming DILG Secretary Mar Roxas did not attend the probe.