House vows to regain jurisdiction over 'Alabang Boys' probe, issues subpoenas

MANILA, Philippines - A House panel on Tuesday subpoenaed key personalities involved in the "Alabang Boys" mess, in an apparent attempt to regain jurisdiction over the investigation on the controversy from an independent fact-finding panel formed by Malacañang. In a press conference, House dangerous drugs committee chair and Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. said the subpoenas were issued to send a strong message that the panel's investigation into the alleged bribery of Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors should not be brushed aside. "This is so we have to show that Congress has jurisdiction to hear the committee hearing," said Ablan, adding that Speaker Prospero Nograles signed the subpoenas Monday. Subpoenaed from the DOJ for Thursday's hearing were state prosecutor John Resado, who penned the December 2 resolution dismissing the case against Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Tecson; senior state prosecutor Phillip Kimpo; chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuno; and Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor. Subpoenaed from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), meanwhile, were director-general Dionisio Santiago; special enforcement services head Major Ferdinand Marcelino; and legal prosecution services head Alvaro Bernabe Lazaro. Also summoned to attend were officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Civil Service Commission, and the national police's Anti-illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF). Members of the independent body have also been invited to Thursday's hearing, Ablan said. Ablan and other lawmakers expressed concern that the absence of DOJ and PDEA officials, among others, during the panel hearing last Thursday because it coincided with the independent body's hearing would set a "precedent" wherein inquiries of Congress into pertinent issues are ignored. "If we don't find out what this is all about there might be a time in the future... that if there is a query in the House or Congress then just to screw up the hearings an independent body may be created and subpoena all those they would like to give testimonies in order to derail the Congress investigation," Ablan said. "It (independent body) could be used as a precedent wherein the future administrations could block House inquiries especially if it pertains to members of the executive branch," added Quezon City Rep. Vincent Crisologo. Even as he clarified that the House panel was not questioning the authority of the independent body, Ablan said the delineation of the independent body's responsibilities should be made clear. Ablan said the Palace-formed panel should at least coordinate with the House committee on the schedule of hearings. "We are not questioning the authority of the creation (of the fact-finding body). As a matter of fact we are very happy that the President issued the memorandum, but it should be clearer. They should not exceed their mandate. And they should coordinate with us," Ablan said. Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez pointed out that the independent body was going into the merits of the drug case against the three suspects even though, he said, that was not part of its mandate. "We are very curious why the fact finding body has delved into the merits of the Alabang Boys case when that is not part of their mandate," Golez said. Citing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Administrative Order No. 252, Golez said the Palace-formed body was only mandated to "look into the conduct of the prosecutors in the handling and resolution of the 'Alabang Boys' and to validate the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation on the allegations of bribery." Golez said the fact-finding body should not "meddle" into the merits of the case against the three drug suspects as only the DOJ Secretary can review the resolution dismissing the case against them. For his part, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodríguez said the independent body should let the House panel finísh its investigation on the controversy first. "We believe the House should be able to continue with this and we should be able to conclude because we have already started this," Rodriguez said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV