Roque

Senate inquiries must have resolution, output – Roque

April 30, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 257 views

UNITEAM senatorial candidate Harry Roque has said that senators should see to it that issues referred to them for investigation and action should not be left unresolved.

Roque, a former party-list representative, said that Senate investigations should always have an output, either in proposed legislation or at least recommendation to file criminal charges to the Ombudsman.

“Hindi po tayo mag-iimbestiga na walang malalabas na output either in terms of proposed legislation or at least recommendation to file criminal charges kasi kasama rin naman po sa trabaho ng senador, ng Senado,” Roque said.

He slammed the Senate investigation on the multibillion-dollar deal with the infamous Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation for “not resulting in anything meaningful.”

“Ang ayaw ko lang po ‘yung nangyari sa Pharmally wala naman lumabas na committee report man lang kasi hindi naman nakakuha ng majority signature mula sa mga senador,” he said.

According to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, only eight senators have signed the committee report on the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. controversy.

Roque also said that senators who investigated Pharmally only wanted to be popular as they were eager to continue their post in Senate.

“Sinayang lang ‘yung oras at nagpasikat lamang ang ilang senador ‘in aid of election’ so ‘wag naman po natin sayangin ang pondo ng taong-bayan,” Roque said.

As senators, Roque said their job is to investigate “in aid of legislation” anomalies happening in the country.

“‘Yung pag-iimbestiga at paglilitis trabaho po ‘yan initially ng executive, ang paglilitis hudikatura, ang senador dapat mag-imbestiga lamang kapag mayroon silang gustong isulong na panukalang batas na alam nilang wala pang batas na sumasakop,” Roque said.

Roque also said that the next Senate should strictly exercise its monitoring powers to guarantee that public funds are utilized correctly for the people.

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