Pimentel: Senate should respect Mike Arroyo's refusal to attend hearing

(Updated 12:27 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Despite "suspicious" excuses to avoid grilling at the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. on Monday said the Senate should still respect First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's refusal to attend the hearing on World Bank mess due to health reason. "Although the reply of the First Gentleman is fraught with suspicious motives if he is really ill, you have to respect that. We don't want a dead carcass in our hands," Pimentel said in a text message sent to GMANews.TV. He said, however, that a doctor's certificate should still be presented. For his part, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Senate doctors should examine Mr. Arroyo to check if the latter is really not capable of answering queries regarding his alleged involvement in bid rigging on government projects. "Our own doctors should examine him and make an independent determination," Pangilinan said in a text message to GMANews.TV. The senator said he was told that Mr. Arroyo is strong enough to play golf. "If true, then he should be able to respond to queries forwarded to him by way of depositions. No one is above the law," Pangilinan said. He said the Senate is not powerless if it so decides to get the side of the husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Mr. Arroyo's name was mentioned in the World Bank report. "In the event that he cannot appear physically, the Senate can forward to him a set of questions which he can answer by way of written interrogatories," Pangilinan said. He said in the absence of a specific rule on the matter, the rules of court can supplement the rules of the Senate. "Hence, written interrogatories and or the taking of depositions are allowed should a witness by reason of health is unable to be physically present in the proceedings wherein his or her testimony is required," Pangilinan said. Earlier in the day, Mr. Arroyo's counsel, lawyer Ruy Rondain, said they will have to clear with the doctors if the First Gentleman would be permitted to give a deposition or appear at the Senate hearing on Thursday. He said both cases may be stressful for Mr. Arroyo. On Sunday, Senate economic affairs committee chairwoman Miriam Defensor Santiago said she may ask for a deposition from the First Gentleman if his health bars him from attending the hearing. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV