The Senate on Monday voted 14-7 to stop Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s committee from leading the investigation on the bribery scandal involving former Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials.
Majority of the senators voted in favor of a motion to reconsider the referral of Senate Resolution No. 256 filed by Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon.
It was Senator Miguel Zubiri who first raised his opposition after the resolution was referred to Trillanes’ panel, the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Conduct.
Zubiri argued that it was “prudent” to refer the resolution also to the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights led by Senator Richard Gordon.
Drilon’s resolution urged Trillanes’ committee to look into the possible reorganization of the BI “in order to restore public confidence” following the alleged corruption committed by sacked Associate Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles.
Gordon, who has had word wars with Trillanes, said his committee should have jurisdiction over the investigation, as the BI is an organization that falls under the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Gordon also questioned the intent of the resolution, telling his colleagues: “We can all decide for ourselves, where it is headed.”
He also cited a resolution filed by Senator Leila de Lima, a party-mate of Drilon, which also sought an investigation on the matter. De Lima had since withdrew the resolution in deference to Drilon’s resolution.
Drilon said he took exception to Gordon’s lengthy statements, saying “it suggests there is a conspiracy” between him and De Lima.
“The imputation of some kind of bad faith or ill motive is definitely very offensive on the part of this representation,” De Lima also said.
Trillanes also hit back at Gordon, saying he should just respect the referral of the resolution. “Kung ayaw sa committee mo, bakit pinagpipilitan mo?” he said.
In the end, however, the senators voted to reconsider its referral. The resolution will be considered pending before the Senate Committee on Rules led by Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.
Those who voted in favor of the motion to reconsider the referral are:
- Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III,
- Senators Zubiri,
- Gordon,
- Sotto,
- Sonny Angara,
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Panfilo Lacson
- Manny Pacquiao
- Grace Poe
- Loren Legarda
- Nancy Binay
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- JV Ejercito
Those who voted against the motion are:
- Senators Drilon,
- De Lima,
- Trillanes,
- Risa Hontiveros,
- Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan,
- Ralph Recto,
- Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV