00:00I know that our rules procedure in aid of legislation includes the use of the rules
00:12of court.
00:13Under the rules of court, Your Honor, which are the rules being used in the courts of
00:19law, hypothetical questions are not allowed to be asked.
00:26Are we supposed to insist on asking hypothetical questions?
00:35Could you please be specific, Congressman Margolieta?
00:38It's very specific, Mr. Chair.
00:42The witness is being asked hypothetical questions.
00:51These are disallowed in the courts of law.
00:57If you're using the rules of court supplementarily, what is the purpose of asking hypothetical
01:05questions?
01:07Under our internal rules, the rules of procedure governing the proceedings before the Committee
01:13on Good Government under Section 16, it provides that rules of procedure and evidence in any
01:19meeting of the Committee, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity, shall
01:25not be controlling.
01:27And the Committee shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in
01:32each case speedily and objectively without regard to technicality of law or procedure.
01:38Yes, Mr. Chair, we're talking of facts, we're not talking about hypothetical situations
01:47here.
01:48We're not supposed to be getting facts out of speculations.
01:52We cannot speculate on the questions that should be asked and answered.
01:57This will not benefit the Committee, Mr. Chair.
01:59Thank you very much.
02:01Noted.
02:02Congressman Margolieta.
02:03Mr. Chair.
02:04Please continue with the...
02:05Mr. Chair.
02:06Congressman Margolieta.
02:07I'll just add a response, Mr. Chair, since it's always being invoked on how the Committee
02:14should conduct, what the bounds of our discussions are.
02:17Mr. Chair, again, what we're doing is in aid of legislation, and we can't make laws,
02:24we can't study what can be laws if we don't discuss the possible scenarios, even if it
02:31hasn't happened yet, Mr. Chair.
02:32We can't have good laws if we don't discuss how it can be implemented, how it can be abused,
02:38which means the line of questioning of our colleagues are essential to the conduct of
02:43our proceedings in the Committee.
02:45That's all, Mr. Chair.
02:47Mr. Chair, this is the problem of non-lawyers.
02:48They insist on something that should not be done.
02:52Noted.
02:53Congressman Margolieta.
02:54Mr. Chair.
02:55Mr. Chair.
02:56Yes, Madam Vice President.
02:57Can I answer as head of agency of the Office of the Vice President?
03:04Can I answer as head of agency of the Office of the Vice President as well?
03:08With respect to the...
03:10To the comment, manifestation of Congressman Margolieta, sir.
03:15No, you are not allowed.
03:17Please continue, Congressman Luis.
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