00:00We have to be strong in our resolve and we showed it, not just because a former colleague, former secretary, a former lawyer,
00:14we cannot be forgiven for the punishment that clearly violated our rules.
00:21And what he's saying about what I said, that we were hurt and that was our basis for citing him in contempt, that's wrong.
00:32What I'm saying is, the friendship of the members of the committee together with him, we appreciate that and that's the reason why I said we were hurt
00:47because of what he said, that he collectively mentioned everything.
00:51Because what he's saying is the House of Representatives and we are all there, we are all like this and that.
00:59I mean there is freedom of expression, we believe on that.
01:03But if you really treasure your friendship, like for example us, you will give consideration.
01:10For example, yesterday, we are somehow interpolating during the suspension and trying to justify that he was a former colleague of ours
01:25and at the same time, friends of our members.
01:29But we stood our resolve and we decided in favor of the rules of the quadcom to cite him in contempt.
01:39That's the reason why the issue that I'm saying that we were angry with him because of all of his congressmen came out.
01:51Basically, we were angry, not angry because it seems like he's saying everything about us.
01:58But he answered yesterday that he's not saying everything.
02:03There are certain areas or certain people that he's saying.
02:13But be that as it may, it already happened.
02:17We will follow the rules and if this is what they call a demolition job,
02:26and the evidences that we have gathered are shouting for the truth,
02:33it really doesn't take so much interest on the words that they call a demolition job.
02:41It really doesn't matter. As long as we are doing our job,
02:46we will release the evidences and we will stick with that.
02:53He can say whatever he wants to say. Personally, I will not dignify his reason or what he's saying.
03:01We are clear that we are fair. Why? You violated the rules of the house, just like other people who violated the rules of the house.
03:10We detained him and we condemned him. That's all.
03:13Whatever his statement that he's saying this, why he was cited in contempt, he knows the truth.
03:21He knows what he's saying. So I will not dignify that.
03:25You said that you're going to invite the former President, former President Felipe Duterte.
03:32I'm raising this point again. What if he didn't attend, he declined and of course, he won't decline over and over again.
03:44Are you going to do that precarious position that you may or you might cite the President in contempt for not attending, not heeding the invitation?
03:59What we said here in the Quadcom, we are fair, we are just, we are only honest.
04:07Because that's our goal, that's our objective, we are giving a chance.
04:14Whoever should be given a chance to appear in our investigation, meaning if you are mentioned,
04:23if you are mentioned by any witness, we will give you a chance to answer.
04:30That's the reason why we've been sending out invitations to our investigation.
04:35This is a chance, a due process.
04:39But just like the position of our former President, we always extend the courtesy to him.
04:48Because we respect his opinion on this invitation.
04:54Although there was a motion yesterday, our Senior Deputy Speaker, Don Gonzales, was invited by the former President.
05:05The same thing happened to the Committee on Human Rights, where the former President was invited.
05:12If they didn't attend, we will extend the courtesy to them.
05:18That's the position of the Quadcom.
05:22There will be a lot of ways.
05:24If you catch a fish, there are many ways.
05:29So I think we will give the highest courtesy to the former President.
05:37But of course, you cannot prevent other members being a democratic committee.
05:45We respect each other's decision and their perception.
05:54Just like yesterday, when somebody wanted to object on the motion of Congressman Salo,
06:05the Chairman, peace barbers allow it.
06:08Because we are a democratic committee, we observe their views.
06:17Basically, if somebody will issue a show-cause order or eventually subpoena or contempt to the former President,
06:27then we will talk about it.
06:29We will be debating about that.
06:32Then we will decide on the fate of the motion.
06:36That's the way it will be.
06:39I hope that the people will understand.
06:44Because the creation of Quadcom is really to find out the truth.
06:49The chance that we are giving them to be heard and to explain their side on the very issue that was tackled,
06:59especially yesterday when there were accusations like that,
07:02we should listen to them.
07:05Nobody can prevent.
07:08Nobody can prevent the evidences that we are gathering.
07:15We are not gathering.
07:17They are giving us the evidence.
07:19We are just gathering all together.
07:22We are choosing.
07:23Yes, we are just choosing.
07:25Because in many cases, sometimes it looks like they will just use the hearing.
07:30We have that kind of thing.
07:31They will say, Ace, it doesn't look like that.
07:36They will just use it in politics.
07:37Yes, they will just use it in politics.
07:39That's why I salute Chairman Ace.
07:43I know he's having a hard time and his head is aching.
07:47But he was able to do it in a nice way.
