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30. On 12 October 2005, the Committee held its fourth hearing on Resolution
No. 551. Although USec Aquino was present, he still did not furnish the Committee with
a copy of the text of the JPEPA.
31. On 25 October 2005, Cong. Aguja wrote to the individual members of the
PCC, reiterating the Committee’s request for an update on the status of the JPEPA
negotiations, the timetable for the conclusion and signing of the agreement, and a copy of
the latest JPEPA working draft. 60 Cong. Aguja also wrote to the Department Heads of the
government agencies that were members of the PCC. 61
32. None of the individual members of the PCC and department heads of the
PCC member agencies provided Cong. Aguja with the requested draft of the JPEPA:
32.1. In his letter dated 26 October 2005, DFA USec Custodio informed
Cong. Aguja that his request had been referred to USec Aquino, as PCC chairman,
for appropriate action. He confirmed Atty. Malou Montero’s statement made
during the 12 October 2005 hearing of the Committee that the proposed JPEPA
“partakes of the nature of a treaty which requires Senate concurrence.” 62
them to give us a copy of the draft … current draft … the most recent draft of the
JPEPA. I so move, Mr. Chair.
“REP. TANADA. Second, Mr. Chair.
“THE CHAIRPERSON. It’s been moved and seconded that the Committee on
Globalization will subpoena the records of the Department of Trade and Industry
with regards to the JPEPA Agreement.”
59
This was revealed by Committee Chairperson Cong. Teves during the 12 October 2005 Committee
hearing on Resolution No. 551:
“THE CHAIRPERSON. Now I call on Usec Aquino to furnish us a copy of the
draft JPEPA and enunciate to this body the positive as well as the negative impact of
said agreement. Is this the draft that the government will sign in December or this
will still be subjected to revisions in the run-up to its signing? x x x We requested also
to subpoena this but then the Speaker requested me to hold in abeyance because he
wanted to get a (sic) consent of the President before we can … the department can
furnish us a copy of this agreement.”
60
See Annexes M-1 to M-15.
61
See Annexes N-1 to N-7.
62
See Annex O-1.
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