BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Ifugao lawmaker Teodoro Baguilat Jr. questioned the logic and propriety of House Resolution (HR) No. 105 calling for an investigation “in aid of legislation” of the accountability of Senator Leila De Lima for the proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison during the lady senator’s term as justice secretary.
“In the same way that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said no new legislation could come out of an investigation into the rampant extrajudicial killings that have cost hundreds of innocent lives, how can any new law come out of an investigation looking for accountability of past officials?” Baguilat asked.
“This proposed investigation in fact reeks of harassment and various constitutional violations as it seeks to spend people’s money on a witch hunt, forgetting that the role of Congress is primarily to make laws, not look for criminal evidence, which is an executive function,” the lawmaker said.
HR 105 filed by Alvarez and 10 other congressmen called for the House of Representatives to “direct the appropriate committee to immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation on the proliferation of drug syndicates in the NBP, including the involvement and accountability of the authorities mandated to exercise control and supervision over the national penitentiary, under the leadership of then Secretary of the Department of Justice Leila M. De Lima, and such other heads of law enforcement agencies tasked with implementing law enforcement policies.”
“Certainly, Congress should look into inefficiencies in government service as part of its control of the national budget, but this resolution obviously targets Senator De Lima while making the unjustified conclusion that the drug problem in NBP started during her stint in the Department of Justice,” the Ifugao lawmaker said.
“The congressmen who filed the resolution failed to note that it was De Lima who ordered the crackdown on various abuses in NBP,” Baguilat added.
Target roots of drug problem
Baguilat believed a sincere investigation into the alleged proliferation of drugs in Philippine jails would try “to search for its roots, not target specific officials.”
He reminded his colleagues in the House of Representatives that “as early as 2009, during the term of then President Arroyo, questionable activities have been reported at the NBP, not the least of which was the construction of houses and the conduct of various businesses by then-inmate Romeo Jalosjos.”
Baguilat also questioned the timing of the proposed investigation, coming at the heels of an investigation in the Senate, spearheaded by De Lima, into drug-related killings.
“Obviously the proposed investigation, which singles out Senator De Lima, wants to discredit the ongoing investigation at the Senate on drug-related killings. It is outrageous that the leadership of the House of Representatives would allow this venerable institution to be used as a political weapon,” Baguilat said.
Baguilat also noted that Rep. Danilo Suarez, whose election as minority floor leader is being questioned by (him) and other lawmakers signed Alvarez’s resolution.
“This only shows that we have a co-opted minority in the House; this is dangerous for democracy and does not bode well for the Filipino people,” he said.