Villar to issue show-cause letters to no-show execs - Malaya 08.22.2006

MEMBERS of the Cabinet and officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration who have twice snubbed a Senate inquiry will be asked to explain why they should not be cited for contempt and be subject of an arrest warrant, Senate President Manuel Villar said yesterday.

The Senate committee on labor chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada initiated the issuance of subpoenas against the officials involved in repatriation efforts in Lebanon after they failed to attend the first hearing.

The probe stemmed from a resolution filed by Sen. Richard Gordon criticizing the snail-paced efforts of government, through OWWA, to release repatriation funds for distressed workers.

Aside from OWWA’s Marianito Roque, other officials who were earlier subpoenaed by the Senate were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Rosalinda Baldoz and Ricardo Blancaflor, undersecretary of the Office of the Executive Secretary.

The officials, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, begged off from the first hearing, saying they were in the thick of operations to bring home the Filipinos endangered in Lebanon.

Ermita also asked the Estrada panel to send the Palace a list of possible questions that would be asked during the hearing.

Villar issued subpoenas after seeing the same public officials holding a press conference in Malacañang on the same day of the hearing.

In the second hearing, the same officials led by Roque also did not show up.

But the same officials attended the budget briefing on Malacañang’s proposed P46.9 billion supplemental budget.

Villar said the "show cause" directive is "just a routinary matter na sa tingin ko ay hindi masama (at) para hindi masabi na basta-basta kami nag-i-issue ng warrant of arrest."

Under a "show cause" order, respondents are directed to explain why they did not ignored the subpoena and why they should not be ordered arrested by the Senate.

"Gusto naming may proseso at (para) masabi na lahat binigyan ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag at bigyan ng sapat na panahon na masagot at dapat sagutin nila," he said.

Villar said the Senate is also being cautious in issuing arrest warrants because there is a chance this would be ignored by the executive branch.

"Alam natin lahat ng kapag nag-decide na mag-issue ng warrant of arrest, ito’y malamang tutulan at di ma-implement so, pupunta na kami sa korte," he said.

He said it is important that the Senate have a strong "legal position" on the issue before it issues an arrest warrant. – Dennis Gadil