00:00A media publicity stunt designed to elicit pity and rank up political points.
00:05The sum-up of yesterday's release by sour-graping Senators Rodante Marcolata and Aini Marcus
00:10of a report from the Senate minority which bypassed Senate plenary deliberations,
00:15disparages the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, and alleges cover-up
00:18of certain politicians embroiled in the flood control scam probe.
00:23Our Luisa Erispe has more on the Senate President and Senate Blue Ribbon Chair's sentiments
00:28on this 500-page stab-in-the-back Senate minority report.
00:34A piece of trash.
00:36This is how Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman
00:40Senator Panfilo Laxon described the minority report
00:44Senators Aini Marcus and Rodante Marcolata released to the public yesterday.
00:50According to Laxon, this is clearly disrespectful not only to the committee but to the whole Senate.
00:56He suggests that his colleagues review the Senate rules.
01:00As veterans in public service and as legislators, they should know that there is proper procedure
01:06in submitting and adopting committee reports to the plenary.
01:10He also said they should not be competing with the committee in accomplishing a report.
01:16Senate President Vicente Soto III has the same sentiments.
01:20He said this is simply a piece of paper and is merely for press release.
01:25Even a majority report, kahit anong blue ribong committee report siya,
01:30unless tinake up sa plenary, ay wala yan.
01:33It's simply a piece of paper.
01:35Napakarami ng committee report na matay sa committee.
01:38It has been submitted to my office.
01:40Then it's unofficial.
01:42Kasi dapat magsasubmit ang minority report.
01:45Pagkatapos ng committee report, isasubmit yun.
01:48Doon sa bills and index, hindi sa akin.
01:50The said report contains information saying that later Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez
01:57should be implicated in the flood control scandal.
02:00But Senator Riza Honteveros believes that somehow, Romualdez is liable to answer to the investigation.
02:06Leadership has greater responsibility talaga.
02:10And kaya rin, sinimulan at ipinagpapatuloy ng blue ribbon ang investigasyong ito.
02:17So that principle is shared among all the members and of course the leadership of the committee.
02:23She also challenged the speaker to attend the hearing and air his side in the investigation.
02:28Nabanggit yung pangalan nila.
02:30So I guess, bukas din yung pagkakataon na dumalo sila sa susunod na pagdinig at ibigay yung kanilang panig.
02:39After all, dati na siyang inimbita sa blue ribbon hearing.
02:43Meanwhile, Curly Descaya is the only person that remained detained in the Senate in connection with the flood control investigation.
02:52Henry Alcantara has been transferred to the custody of the Witness Protection Program this afternoon.
02:57Previously, Bryce Hernandez and JP Mendoza were also taken this week due to the arrest warrant released by the Sandigan Bayan against them.
03:07Luisa Erispe from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
