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“The double standards and sense of entitlement of some people are frankly quite disheartening,” lamented Revilla, who was earlier acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder charges in connection with the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.
He said that when he was incarcerated “due to politically motivated charges,” a very vocal group was against his participation in Senate proceedings.
“It is funny that among that group were Leila de Lima herself and some of those signatories in the open letter released yesterday,” he said.
Revilla was referring to the joint statement signed by former President Benigno Aquino III and seven other former senators expressing support for De Lima.
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“In fact, it was the official position of the Senate leadership at the time that the absence of three senators would have no impact on legislation,” Revilla said.
Aside from him, charged and jailed for plunder were former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada. The two are out on bail and their cases are still being heard by the Sandiganbayan.
“Wala yang pinagkaiba sa sitwasyon ko noon. Halatang halata naman ang special treatment ‘pag pinayagan ‘yan ngayon,” said Revilla.
Equal protection, fair play
Revilla said equal protection and fair play dictates that De Lima cannot be allowed to participate in Senate proceedings, even if only remotely.
“First, to do so would amount to giving her favor over and above other detainees. And second, to allow her to vote in absencia would be a travesty against the Senate as a whole as this has no basis in the Rules. And even if the Rules are amended, it will lead to absurd results,” he said
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In their resolution, Drilon and Lacson said she should be allowed to fulfill her mandate by participating in plenary sessions via teleconferencing, video conferencing or other forms of remote or electronic communications.
The resolution was also backed by Senate President Vincente Sotto III, who expressed his approval for De Lima to join the plenary sessions through available technology.
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“The resolution to allow Sen de Lima to participate in Senate proceedings has been referred to the Committee on Rules which may or may not recommend to plenary the adoption of the said resolution,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.
He clarified that nothing in the resolution states that De Lima should be allowed to vote since under the Rules of the Senate, her physical presence is required.
Lacson also said if he was in the Senate at the time Revilla was incarcerated along with Estrada and Enrile, “I would have supported their participation as well since we had earlier allowed Sen (Antonio) Trillanes the same privilege when he was detained after he won a Senate seat in 2007.”
He said, in fact, as chairman of the Committee on Accounts, he recommended the procurement of the technical equipment needed for the purpose.
“These were the factors, among others that I considered when I co-authored the resolution to allow Senator De Lima to participate in our deliberations under certain conditions,” he said.
Lacson said he respects Revilla’s position on the issue which the latter can further articulate if and when the chairman of the committee on rules presents his recommendation to the body in plenary.
De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center since 2017 over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as justice secretary. She has repeatedly denied the accusations.
— RSJ, GMA News
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Why is it until now her case still up in the air. If she’s guilty, what else are they waiting for? Why they don’t sentence her lifetime jail without the possibility of parole?
ReplyDeleteNo to drug protector attending senate hearing. She will only favor drug cases and colleagues in drug business no matter how much it is not made appear obviously.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the senate give special treatment to all the detainees who are currently languishing in jail?!?! Double standard talaga. Senators really take care of their own. that is the reason the PHL is in dog shit, too much politics. Politicians favor their parties rather than the country. Why can't we be like Japan and South Korea?
ReplyDelete