Sotto to those questioning Senate hearing on ninja cops: Zip it

Zip it.

This was the message Wednesday of Senate President Vicente Sotto III to a government official he did not name who questioned the Senate hearing on Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law which branched out to the issue on drug recycling and ninja cops.

At the start of the resumption of the hearing jointly being conducted by the Senate blue ribbon and justice committees, Sotto said there were some executive officials who were wondering why the issue being probed has moved to another issue.

“The direct answer would be—you are not monitoring the hearings because indeed the committee on justice and blue ribbon started an inquiry on GCTA which evolved into the influence in recycling and illegal activities in the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections). If there are illegal activities and recycling of illegal drugs influenced by those inside the BuCor who are already behind bars but are still drug lords, you cannot help but (investigate) these issues,” he said.

The Senate leader also denied that the hearing has turned into a political one.

“We want to clear the air also that this has been turned into a political scenario. Definitely, you are completely wrong when you say that because the events that have been unearthed transpired in 2013. It does not have anything to do with the drug war of the present administration. It has nothing to do with the present administration,” he said.

Sotto also said the blue ribbon committee can investigate anything under the sun.

“In the Senate, the only committee that has motu proprio powers and authorized to conduct any hearing concerning any public official or event, anything at all under the sun, it is the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations—this is the blue ribbon committee,” he said.

Sotto added the blue ribbon committee can convene and call for an inquiry even without a resolution, bill, or privilege speech.

“The blue ribbon can convene for an inquiry to find out how much you bought your ballpen if you are a public official. That’s how it is. So for those who are not familiar with the Senate rules, my message is that: Zip it,” said Sotto.

The Senate leader did not name anyone.

In a chance interview in Moscow last Friday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he cannot understand why the Senate hearing has become political and made it appear that the government’s war against drugs is failing.

He said something is wrong somewhere because the  topic of the investigation has gone another way. —KG, GMA News