House panels to continue hearings during break

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives will continue to conduct congressional inquiries and other legislative hearings even while on break, leaders of the chamber said yesterday.

The House adopted a motion during the adjourning of the first regular session on June 11 allowing lawmakers to conduct hearings even on sine die break.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the motion was adopted “in case it’s needed, so the House can still conduct limited but important activities” even on recess.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Ilocos Sur Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the motion was necessary so that the holding of inquiries and hearings during the break would not be questioned.

“That is part of tradition so that we can still conduct hearings and investigations, especially if it pertains to matters of national importance,” said Fariñas, a member of the Commission on Appointments.

Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal said even technical working groups of the House committee can work during the recess “so that they will be ready for plenary when session resumes” on July 28.

Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said committee activities during the break was also meant to ease the load of the incoming second regular session next month.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, head of the independent bloc, said despite political differences among lawmakers, the House was able to perform well in the first regular session.

But he expressed frustration over what he said was the lack of support from the House leadership for the bloc’s request to the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management for copies of records and all related documents on funds being linked to the pork barrel fund scam.