Senate panel cites for contempt consignee in illegal coral shipment

A Senate panel on Wednesday cited in contempt the consignee in a recent illegal shipment of corals in the country for failing to show up during the chamber's hearing on the issue. During the day's hearing, environment committee chairman Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri cited in contempt consignee Exequiel Navarro and ordered the Senate sergeant-at-arms to arrest him if he still fails to attend the panel's hearing on Monday. "He confirmed (attendance) last night that is why we were very excited to hear his testimony because we would want to press him... on his admission that he is only a dummy," Zubiri said. "Gusto po sana namin malaman kung sino talaga ang mastermind, financier nitong shipment na ito (We wanted to know who really is the mastermind and financer of this shipment)," he added.

But Zubiri said Navarro told him that he couldn't attend Wednesday's Senate hearing because he lacked the evidence needed to pin down those involved and that his brother was in a delicate condition. "Sensya na po hindi me makadalo,sa dahilan po ang biglaan ang pagpunta ko sa kapatid ko hindi na nya nakayanan yung mga lumabas sa balita... Inatake sya sir (I'm sorry I couldn't attend. I went to see my brother and he couldn't handle what was coming out in the news so he suffered an attack)," Navarro told Zubiri in the text message on Tuesday night. On May 11, Bureau of Customs officials confiscated two 20-foot container vans loaded with stuffed marine turtles, black corals, and seashells. As of posting time, the Senate hearing was ongoing. — RSJ/LBG, GMA News