Closing Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros
Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality

Like we promised at the start of the first hearing on Senate Resolution 131, like we promised to Alex Chiong when he walked into my office one afternoon in January, we will get to the bottom of this. And we are getting closer and closer to the bottom.

We will see to it that the masterminds behind this deep, deep corruption in the Bureau of Immigration will pay for their crime. Magbabayad kayo. Hindi lang ang mga foot soldiers ang mananagot, kundi kayong mga naghahari-an.

Para sa mga implicated na akala niyo pwede niyo Ismall-in ang investigation ng Committee na ito, nagkakamali kayo. With the concurrence of Senator Imee, I have ruled to hold you Marc red Marinas, Maynardo Mariñas, Totoy Magbuhos, and Daniece Binsol in CONTEMPT and I request the sergeant of arms of the senate to present you before the committee next hearing.

I want to thank today Mr. Dale Ignacio for his invaluable testimony. Hindi matatawarang testimonya. Napakalaking tulong mo sa committee na ito. You corroborated the testimony of Alex and greatly helped the investigation of our law enforcement officers. Ang mga tulad niyo ang nagbibigay pag-asa sa akin at sa napakaraming Pilipino na tunay na malinis ang ating gobyerno.

I would also like to thank Sec Guevara and NBI for their cooperation and for hosting the subpoenaed persons of the Committee at the NBI Conference Hall.

We are here to protect our borders. We are here to protect our women and children. Hirap na hirap na ang Pilipinas, bigat na bigat na ang karaniwang tao sa sigalot na dulot ng pandemyang ito, tapos may mga tumatabo pa ng malaking pera sa pagpasok ng mga kriminal sa ating bansa. Mga kriminal na nag-aabuso sa ating mga kababaihan, sa ating mga anak.

Let us write finish to this controversy. Managot na ang dapat managot.