Zubiri reminds senators not to turn hearings into political witch-hunts

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday reminded fellow senators not to turn inquiries in aid of legislation into political witch-hunts.

The Senate President issued the remark the same day the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee held a second hearing on the supposed leak of confidential Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reports linking President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and other personalities to illegal drugs.

"We respect the committees’ right to perform oversight functions in aid of legislation. However, we would like to remind our colleagues to be very careful not to use hearings in aid of political persecution," Zubiri said in a press conference.

"Ang caution ko sa chairperson and the members of the Senate is, let us try to avoid making these hearings into a political circus or for a political witch-hunt," he added.

Zubiri noted that "very serious accusations" were being leveled during the Senate's hearing on the so-called "PDEA leaks," yet there was no evidence to back the accusations.

"While certain claims were made, documentary evidence is yet to be presented. There were no pictures, no corroborating testimonies. In other words, this was solely based on the testimony of one person based on what appears to be hearsay evidence," the Senate President said.

"[Former PDEA intelligence officer Jonathan] Morales cites a document that he claims to have seen, by virtue of his former position, although he did not personally witness any wrongdoing. The drug test of the President is being brought up, even though it does not appear to be germane to the subject of the motu proprio investigation. Under a court of law, guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt," he pointed out.

Although legislative inquiries are "very liberal" in terms of adhering to rules of evidence, Zubiri stressed that hearings should aim to ferret out the truth using evidence and facts.

"Habang nagmo-monitor ako kanina, wala naman silang napapakitang panibagong ebidensya kundi 'yung sinasabi lang nilang dokumento. Hindi nga galing sa kanya 'yung dokumento, galing pa ['yung information] sa isang informant na ayaw niya pangalanan," Zubiri said.

"Buti sana kung siya mismo ang nakakita ng krimen o yung masamang pangyayari. Hindi. Galing lang siya sa informant niya. So let's be very careful about that, gentlemen, ladies," he added.

Failure to do so would result in the diminished faith of the people in inquiries in aid of legislation, especially when it comes to "reputational damage" to other parties, he added.

"My final say is no matter our political affiliations, senators must be one in preserving the integrity of the constitutional duty to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation," he said.

"We could lose credibility as an institution. Madaming magagalit sa amin... Of course, undue anger and resentment to the Senate by different political clans and parties na ayaw naman na natin mangyari," he added.

While he issued the reminder, Zubiri said he "trust[s]" Senator Ronald "Bato"  dela Rosa, who leads the Senate inquiry on PDEA leaks, that the inquiry would not be a political witch-hunt.

Zubiri also clarified that his statement does not only cover the inquiry on "PDEA leaks" but all Senate hearings.

"This goes for every committee hearing. Hindi lamang ito. Alam ko magkakaroon ng committee hearing dito sa Gentleman's Agreement. Ganun din," he said.

Zubiri was referring to the upcoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigation on the agreement that was allegedly brokered by former President Rodrigo Duterte with China on the West Philippine Sea.

The said investigation was sought by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros and the inquiry would be led by Senator Imee Marcos, the chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. — DVM, GMA Integrated News