Drilon: Majority can compel Napoles' subpoena

MANILA, Philippines = Senator President Franklin Drilon has expressed willingness to respect if majority of his colleagues decide to support the request of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to subpoena Janet Lim Napoles in the ongoing Senate inquiry into pork barrel scam.

”If it will be the decision of the majority, it will prevail. That’s the rules in a democracy, majority rules,” Drilon said in radio dzBB interview.

However, Drilon is hoping that majority of the senators would understand that it would be difficult at present to ask Napoles to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon as advised by the Office of the Ombudsman.

”I think they will understand the request of the Ombudsman not to ask Napoles testify as of now,” he said.

Last Thursday, Blue Ribbon chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III asked Drilon to reconsider the latter’s decision not to sign the subpoena for Napoles based on advised of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

”Because the Ombudsman said it, we would respect that at this time we will not allow Napoles to testify in the Senate. I would rather exercise prudence and caution,” Drilon said.

A criminal complaint for plunder, malversation, bribery and other graft and corruption against Napoles and others including senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada has already been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. PNA