Senate probe on Puno to push through despite resignation; Robredo wife won't attend

Despite the resignation of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, the Senate will still push through with its investigation on his alleged vast powers in the department and his allegedly suspicious actions after his boss' death last month.   "His resignation does not relieve him of the obligation to appear at our public hearing here in the Senate," Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chair of the committee that would conduct the investigation, told reporters in an ambush interview Tuesday, shortly after Puno announced his resignation.   The investigation, which will be on Friday, will be conducted by the Senate panel on constitutional amendments, revision of codes, and laws.   Santiago said Puno’s resignation was a bit late. "He should have done it earlier then he would have become the poster boy for delicadeza, but he hung in there until the President was compelled to announce his replacement," she said.   Santiago added: "He should have done it earlier because then he would have gained brownie points from the public, but at this point who cares? We don't even feel relieved about it. We dont even have to admire what he did because he had no choice."   In a statement issued Tuesday, Puno said he quit his post to give incoming Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas a free hand in forming a new team in the DILG. Roxas replaced Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash in Masbate last month.   Santiago said Puno’s resignation does not mean he could skip the Senate panel’s investigation.   "There is no precedent that any person who resigns or even retires from public service is automatically acquitted of any liability for any misdeeds during his term of office," she said. Santiago said if Puno does not appear they would have no choice but to issue a subpoena against him. "He still has to answer many questions in the minds of the public," she said.   Santiago had earlier said that she wants to probe allegations that Puno and several policemen tried to enter Robredo’s condominium unit a day after Robredo died. The house helper in the unit reportedly phoned the late Interior secretary’s wife, Leni, when Puno’s party allegedly tried to get inside the unit.   At the time of his death, Robredo was investigating several anomalous transactions, including a controversial weapons deal by the Philippine National Police (PNP). As DILG undersecretary, Puno was the official overseeing the PNP.   Santiago said she would also dig up all the other controversies involving Puno and would try to unmask his backer in the government.   Santiago had already sent out invitations for resource speakers in the hearing. Among them were:

• Robredo's wife Atty. Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo
• Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
• Environment Secretary Ramon Paje
• Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
• Interior Secretary-designate Manuel Roxas III
• Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome
• Archbishop Oscar Cruz

  But Atty.  Domnina Rances, Robredo's head executive assistant, informed Santiago that Mrs. Robredo would not be attending Friday's hearing.   "In as much as Atty. Gerona-Robredo would like to honor your invitation to the said committee hearing, it is with deep regret that the former begs to decline the invitation," Rances said in a letter to Santiago dated September 10.   "Even as she grieves for the passing of Sec. Jesse Robredo, her hands are currently full in ensuring that her children are coping with the unfortunate event and she is afraid that such a very public event concerning her husband's work might cause too much pain and stress for her family," she added.   Santiago said this was "unfortunate" because Mrs. Robredo could have given them a "factual account" of what actually happened. She said she wants to ask Mrs. Robredo about the documents inside her husband's condominium unit and how Robredo’s relationship was with Puno.   The senator said they may just ask Robredo's assistant to testify on the same. — KBK, GMA News