Manila, Philippines — The appearance of surprise witnesses is now banned in Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, according to Blue Ribbon Chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
“Bawal na po ngayon ang surprise witness under my watch,” Tulfo said during the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) forum at Harbor View on Tuesday, July 7.
[Surprise witnesses are now banned under my watch.]
According to the senator, witnesses wishing to testify must now submit an affidavit before the hearing. This ensures Senate members can review the document beforehand and formulate proper questions.
“According to the rules, meron po kaming 3 day rule. Number 1, magbigay ka ng affidavit mo para ma review ng lahat ng miyembro. Hindi yung basta ka na lang sisipot doon sa hearing. Bigyan mo kami ng affidavit, then pag-aaralan ng buong miyembro, minority, majority, para doon din namin ipo-formulate yung question,” Sen. Tulfo added.
[According to the rules, we have a 3-day rule. Number 1, submit your affidavit so all members can review it. You cannot just show up at the hearing. Give us an affidavit, then the entire membership—minority and majority—will study it, and that is where we will formulate our questions.]
He further explained that witnesses will be given three days to come forward before the actual hearing and must ensure they bring their affidavits.
Following this, Tulfo also mentioned that the names of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other officials previously brought up in past hearings have already been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, new names will be looked into after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.
In line with this, he will also form sub-committees and appoint their respective chairpersons—such as his inhibition from the flood control probe, which he is leaving under the leadership of another lawmaker. – Angel Aldo, Contributor