Senate defers referral of Mike A. probe

The Senate deferred yesterday the referral to any standing committee the investigation of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for his alleged role in the diversion of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

The deferment was arrived at by the majority after a heated debate over the referral that would have precipitated another spate of "filibustering" by the opposition.

At Malacañang, President Arroyo’s spokesman said the first spouse will not submit himself to investigation either by the Ombudsman or the Senate unless his principal accusers submit credible evidence.

"It’s up to the accusers now" to submit evidence for the proper investigative bodies to move, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said, as he reiterated that the Palace would not be a party to any "witchhunt."

The alleged misuse of the PCSO fund was previously referred to the Senate committee on electoral reforms headed by opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara. Sen. John Osmeña, however, moved to recall that referral and send it instead to the Blue Ribbon Committee headed by Sen. Joker Arroyo.

Osmeña said it is very clear from the Senate rules that the Blue Ribbon, not the electoral reforms committee, has appropriate jurisdiction over the PCSO issue as it involves graft in a government office or corporation.

The minority, however, objected as the PCSO issue involves the alleged misuse of funds for the political campaign of administration candidates for senator.

A resolution authored by all 11 opposition senators called for an investigation into reports that PCSO funds were used for the campaign of Senators Joker Arroyo and Juan Flavier, and of losing candidates Ernesto Herrera and Roberto Pagdanganan.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that the referral to the Angara committee should be retained "unless the majority wants to prevent the truth from coming out."

Pimentel said the minority was "gravely concerned" over the fate of their resolution on the PCSO considering the pronouncements of Senator Arroyo over their earlier resolution on the investigation of the First Gentleman for allegedly getting commissions from the grant of two telecommunications franchises.

Pimentel cited media reports quoting Arroyo as saying there is no reason for the Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate Mike Arroyo. He also said that he received only recently a notice for the initial investigation to be conducted this Thursday. He noted, however, that the notice was dated "Nov. 6, 2000," making him suspect that it might even be a hoax.

Arroyo affirmed the authenticity of the Thursday hearing, while saying that his committee has already sent a corrected copy on the date. He also blamed the opposition, except for Sen. Blas Ople, for their lack of interest in naming the resource persons to be invited by the committee in its initial hearing.

Ople has named former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., now Quezon City mayor; former Romblon Rep. Eleandro Madrona, then chairman of the House committee on franchise, and the House secretary general as resource persons for the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation. – With Marichu Villanueva