The people should understand that the ongoing publicized investigation of the pork barrel scam is conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in aid of legislation.
In other words, the Senate is conducting a fact- finding investigation how it may remedy the problem by passing the necessary legislation so that it may hopefully be prevented in the future.
The Senate has no power to make findings that may be considered binding on any party. All that they get is publicity for the problem and for the Senators.
Of course, the Senate can have their findings and make recommendations but it is merely recommendatory. As we know, the power of Congress is to legislate. To pass wholesome laws.
The power to execute and enforce the law is with the Executive Department headed by the President.
That is why the Secretary of Justice is spearheading the investigation and the prosecution of those guilty of the commission of the crime of plunder when the Senators and Congressmen stole millions of pesos from people.
When public officials steal money from the public coffers, it is like taking the food from the mouth of the hungry children who could have benefited from it.
The case filed by the Secretary of Justice is now with the Ombudsman who has found that there is probable cause for plunder against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and Sen. Bong Revilla.
What is pending is their motion for reconsideration. The Ombudsman is still in the U.S, and shall be back in the first week of June. By then, I expect that the motion for reconsideration will be denied, and the information for plunder will be filed against Enrile and his cohorts.
And since it is not bailable, they can be detained, pending the hearing of the case, unless the Court finds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.
So let us just wait when the warrant of arrest will be issued, and the culprits will scamper like rats.
In the meantime, Janet Lim-Napoles, one of the respondents in the plunder case, has executed an affidavit implicating 120 solons in the pork barrel scam.
In an affidavit, Napoles listed 12 incumbent senators, including Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla, who are fighting indictment for plunder and graft before the Sandiganbayan over the scam.
The rest of the incumbent senators listed are Gregorio Honasan II, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Aquilino Pimentel III, Cynthia Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Francis Escudero.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, these are your honorable members of the Congress!
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Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
