Senators irked by absence of Cabinet members in Kidapawan probe

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Wednesday questioned the absence of Cabinet members during the second Kidapawan probe.

Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile and Alan Peter Cayetano said that the absence of the Cabinet members risk questions getting repeated in the next probe as it is the secretaries who are commanding their respective departments and not the representatives.

"If they were invited, they should be here because that is their purpose of being members of the Cabinet," Enrile said.

Enrile lamented the absence of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento whose presence is essential in the probe. Sarmiento was represented by DILG Region 12 Director Reynaldo Bungubung who said the secretary was attending to “urgent matters.”

“What is the impelling problem of your department that keeps him out of discussing the problem of the country and our people as important as this one?" Enrile asked saying the “urgent” matter must be “earthshaking."

Enrile also alluded to President Benigno Aquino III’s accountability while asking about Sarmiento’s presence.

"Is this the way your department looks at the problems of our country involving citizens, your bosses supposedly, the boss of your boss?" he added alluding to Aquino.

Aside from Sarmiento, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, members of the El Niño task force also skipped the probe.

Cayetano also hit another Cabinet member Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman who also failed to turn up in the hearing. She was represented by Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera who said Soliman was in Mati, Davao Oriental to monitor the drought situation.

Soliman’s absence angered Cayetano pointing out that Soliman was in Manila during the first Kidapawan probe and now that it is held in Manila, she failed to attend. He said the farmers even flew to Manila to give way to secretaries but they chose to skip attending the hearing.

Both senators expressed dismay over the absence of the secretaries.

"My disgust in the manner by which the government looks at this problem, and this is reflected in the inaction and absence of high officials who are in the government today," Enrile said.

Meanwhile, Cayetano summoned all Cabinet secretaries in the next hearing, which he said may occur after the elections. He also said the officials have time for campaigns and not for the farmers’ needs.

“We will not accept [the] absence of Cabinet secretaries in next hearing,” Cayetano said. “Why do department secretaries have time for political rallies but not for this Senate hearing?”

The Senate panel first held the hearing at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City since it is the nearest place to the incident, citing consideration for injured farmers.

Last March 30, thousands of farmers started blocking stretches of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Kidapawan City to ask for government action on the hunger plaguing their communities amid the ongoing drought. The rally led to a bloody dispersal that killed and injured farmers, civilians, and police.