Controversial Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno will finally be in the hot seat.

After days of silence in the wake of news last week that Puno tried to gain entry into his boss Jesse Robredo's residence while the late DILG secretary was still considered missing, Puno will have his day in the court of public opinion when congressmen summon him to the House of Representatives.

In particular, he will be asked about supposed irregularities in the purchase of some 60,000 service pistols for the Philippine National Police (PNP).
 
Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, chairperson of the House committee on public order and safety, said it is only “proper” to invite Puno to the investigation since the undersecretary was the one “overseeing” police matters in the DILG.
 
Garcia added that he also plans to invite PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to the House panel’s probe, as well as representatives from the winning pistol supplier, Glock Asia Pacific, and its local partner, Trust Trade.

Garcia said the hearing is expected to take place in two weeks' time yet, as no committee hearings are being held due to the budget delibrations. 
 
The House investigation was triggered by a resolution filed by AGHAM party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, who bared the supposed irregularities in the procurement of the pistols.
 
“The bidding process of the above-cited procurement of firearms as of the recent report, has not been completed, and that some bidders have not complied with the required eligibility documents and other necessary bidding documents to qualify for the bid,” Palmones said in House Resolution 2598.
 
The PNP is set to conclude a P1-billion contract with Glock Asia Pacific and Trust Trade for the purchase of 60,000 service pistols as part of its effort to provide every policeman in the country with a handgun.
 
Losing bidders, led by Peter Go Cheng of Kolonwell Trading, however, accused Puno of circumventing bidding rules to favor Trust Trade. Puno has yet to issue a statement regarding the accusation.
 
Puno, a shooting budy of President Benigno Aquino III, has been hogging the headlines in the past few days after he supposedly tried to access confidential documents a day after Robredo died in a plane crash last August 18.

President Aquino has said he ordered Puno to help secure the documents in Robredo's office, but not in his residence, after the plane crash.

Miriam: Sound and fury
 
In the upper chamber, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would unmask the alleged backers of Puno during a hearing on Friday of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, which she chairs.
 
The panel is investigating allegations that Puno and several police officers tried to enter the condominium unit of Robredo a day after his plane crashed in Masbate.
 
"I'm going to try and draw that out... during the hearing but right now I can’t… because I'll be accused of unfair allegations without any evidence," Santiago told reporters during an interview Monday.
 
"There will be a lot of sound and fury on Friday... a lot of sound from Usec. Puno, a lot of fury from me,” the senator added.

Robredo was investigating several anomalous transactions, including the controversial weapons deal, at the time of his death, officials said.
 
Asked what she thinks about President Aquino’s statements regarding Puno’s actions, Santiago said: “Maybe the President is not defending Mr. Puno but is just trying to protect the backers of Mr. Puno."
 
Without elaborating, Santiago said Puno’s actions did not seem to be politically motivated. "I think it is just corruption," she said. – Andreo Calonzo & Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/YA/HS, GMA News