Sotto to Hernandez, Discaya: Invoke legislative immunity then confess

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contractor Curlee Discaya and former Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez have invoked legislative immunity amid the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the anomalous flood control projects in the country.

During the session, Senate President Tito Sotto advised Discaya to invoke his legislative immunity to be able to freely disclose supposed payoffs he made for some of their projects. 

Discaya initially invoked his right to self-incrimination, but he was advised by Senate President Tito Sotto to rather invoke his legislative immunity instead.

“Mayroon kayong legislative immunity, huwag kayong matakot. Pag sa hearing kayo nagsasalita, pwede niyo invoke legislative immunity. Magsalita kayo, huwag niyo sabihin yung against self-incrimination," explained Sotto. 

(You have legislative immunity; don’t be scared. If you spoke at a hearing, you can invoke legislative immunity. Speak up, don't mention self-incrimination.)

"There is such a thing inherent sa mga committees, yung legislative immunity ang tinatawag. Kung meron kayong gusto ipagtapat, ipagtapat ninyo... Hindi pwedeng gamitin sa inyo pag sa hearing niyo sinabi," he added.

(There is such a thing inherent to committees, which is what we call legislative immunity. If there’s something you want to confess, say it. They can’t use it against you if you said it in a hearing.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros also noted that the “protection” lies with their oaths to tell the truth.

Later on, Hernandez had also requested for legislative immunity when asked for his role in conducting ghost projects.

Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Panfilo Lacson had left the decision up to the members and reminded Hernandez that the immunity only applied if he was telling the truth.

Hernandez noted that he was unable to request immunity from the House previously, as he was not aware of it.

“Basta kung sasabihin mo lahat ng katotohanan gaya ng sinasabi ng ating chair… Basta po ay nalaman at natuklasan na kayo ay nagsinungaling, babawiin po,” said Senator JV Ejercito.

(As long as you will say the truth, like what our chair said… If we find out and discover that you are lying, we will take it back.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News