Senators back to legislative work after Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines - After close to five months of sitting as an impeachment court, senators resumed legislative work yesterday and are confident of passing many bills before the adjournment on June 7.

Three bills – witness confidentiality act, authorizing the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul-general to correct clerical or typographical errors in the birthday or sex of a person without need of a judicial order, and the revival of the observance of Arbor Day – were approved on third reading yesterday.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, principal author of Senate Bill 1537, said witnesses and victims of crimes are discouraged from testifying freely and truthfully for fear of reprisals from offenders, who could get their contact numbers and addresses during a trial or hearing.

Under Santiago’s proposed measure, victims and witnesses shall not be required to provide their residence or place of business and telephone number “unless the court determines that there is a clear need for such disclosure because the information is necessary and relevant to the facts of the case or the credibility of the witness.”

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile lauded the passage of the bill, saying the protection of witnesses and victims is essential in the fight against criminality.

“We hope that with the passage of SB 1537, more witnesses and victims in criminal cases will be encouraged to testify against offenders. We also expect an increase in the rate of conviction with the passage of the bill,” Enrile said.

Eleven other bills were approved on second reading, including SB 3206 or the proposed early years act; SB 107, requiring all public servants to submit a waiver to allow the Ombudsman to look into all their bank deposits; SB 3209, defining and protecting the use of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems; SB 3164 or the revised AFP modernization program; Senate Joint Resolution 14 or the extension of the life of the congressional oversight committee on dangerous drugs; and House Bill 5608 or the reapportioning of Palawan into three legislative districts.

Six other House bills granting franchises to Wi-Tribe Telecoms, Inc., Reliance Broadcasting Unlimited, Inc., Telecommunication Technology Solutions, Inc., TV Maria Foundation of Davao del Sur, Inc., Cultural Foundation of Davao del Sur, Inc. and Nueva Vizcaya State University were also passed on second reading.

Under SB 107, which was filed by Sen. Francis Escudero in 2010, any government official or employee who fails or refuses to submit a waiver for the opening of their financial assets shall not be allowed to continue exercising the functions of their office.

“Those who refuse to sign are free to go to the private sector because working in the government is a privilege and not a right,” Escudero said.

However, for the protection of the civil servant, the bill stipulates that only the Office of the Ombudsman may obtain or use the written permission or any other information obtained from it.

“This waiver and any information obtained from it shall be used exclusively only for investigating a duly signed and verified complaint before the Sandiganbayan. We don’t want any witch-hunting using this,” Escudero said.

Privilege speeches were delivered by Sen. Pia Cayetano calling for action on the proposed Reproductive Health bill, and Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada commending Enrile and the rest of the senators for their work in the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona.

Several other bills were listed in the agenda for yesterday’s session but were not tackled, as most of the senators left the session hall by the time Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III called for adjournment.