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Closed-door congressional hearings opposed


Malacañang is not in favor of closed-door congressional hearings, which were proposed after former Defense secretary Angelo Reyes’ death supposedly to avoid trial by publicity of persons accused of wrongdoings. “The public is very interested in what is going on in the hearings and I think the public should be afforded the right to see what is going on. The public always has the right to know," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing Wednesday. Valte refused to comment on whether Reyes, who committed suicide Tuesday morning days after being accused of corruption, was a victim of trial by publicity by the Senate blue ribbon committee. “Hindi po tayo nasa tamang posisyon para mag-comment (We are not in the right position to comment) on how the Senate conducts its business," Valte said. Days before he took his own life, Reyes faced a blue ribbon investigation in where he was accused of receiving about P100 million in payoffs during his stint as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Pat Daza, the spokesperson of the Reyes family, said the investigation and the accusation took their toll on Reyes, who she said lost weight and had sleepless nights after his Senate appearance. Reyes had denied the accusations.


Valte said if the topic is sensitive, a resource person or witness can always ask the lawmakers for an executive session. Following Reyes’ death, Sen. Gregorio Honasan said congressional investigations should be moderated so that people who are embroiled in public scandals will not suffer the same fate as the former Defense secretary. But Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in an interview by reporters on Wednesday, shot down the proposal, saying it would be risky to hear everything in executive session because the public might think they are hiding something. “If they (resource persons) want to reveal to us the truth in an executive session, then maybe I will think about it, but if they’re going to ask for an executive session to hear the case outside of the glare of the people, I’m not in favor of that," he said. He said he favors executive session only if sensitive matters involving national security are discussed. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, meanwhile, said he is open to the idea of conducting executive sessions, noting that former military comptrollers Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot, who both allegedly benefited from the supposed AFP corruption, had refused to answer questions in a public hearing. Meanwhile, Valte said there is no plan yet if President Benigno Aquino III will go to Reyes' wake at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Quezon City. She said the President had already sent flowers to the Reyes family. “We’ve not seen that particular item on his schedule yet. I’m not aware if there are any plans (to go to the wake) but from what I know, the President has sent sympathy flowers to the family," Valte said. — with Kim Tan/KBK, GMA News
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