Press Release
October 19, 2022

Lawyers to have bigger role in Senate probes, says Senator Tolentino

MANILA - In the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, October 19, Senator Francis Tolentino, Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, announced that he would be issuing an order that would allow lawyers to play a bigger role in the Senate investigations. This is in furtherance of his promise to protect the rights of resource persons and witnesses appearing before the committee.

"During the latter part of the proceedings, I will make an order that would allow lawyers to participate, lawyers of different witnesses and resource persons. May karapatan sila. Yung abogado nila will have a role, perhaps not an adversarial speaking role, but will have, definitely, a role and a bigger role," said Senator Tolentino.

The Senator also said that this wider participation of lawyers of witnesses and resource persons appearing before the senate panel would be a first in history.

"Hindi puwedeng sabihin na inusig sila doon, hindi sila pinagsalita, hinaharang sila, hindi sila nabigyan ng day in [the] committee or day in court," he said.

When asked for the reason behind the grant of a bigger role to the members of the legal profession, Senator Tolentino said, "Itong Blue Ribbon kasi merong i-pprosecute, pwedeng makulong, meron yung iba sinasabi damage to their reputation. Bibigyan na natin ng katungkulan yung mga abogado na tulungan sila."

It may be recalled during the first meeting of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that the Chairman opened the proceedings with a promise to uphold the rights of those to be questioned by the panel.

The next hearing on the alleged 'overpriced' and 'outdated' laptops is set on Thursday, October 20.

News Latest News Feed