Record of the Senate - Integrated Bar of the Philippines

64 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012Mr. Roy. I concur, Mr. President.The Presiding Officer. All right.Mr. Roy. Thank you very much.With that, I take it that the Court will entertain our request and act on it in due course.The Presiding Officer. Yes.Mr. Roy. Very well, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. All right, submit the request and we will issue the subpoena.Mr. Roy. Your Honor, further, I would like to put on record now that once these witnesses haveput on record what they have to state under oath, we will present evidence to contradict, deny, andrebut them through the testimony of the Chief Justice.Now, we request that the subpoena be issued forthwith and that all the witnesses be heard first inorder to avoid the staggered appearance on the part of the Chief Magistrate.I am not certain, Your Honor, how quickly the Honorable Court can respond, but in light of thisdevelopment—by the way, Your Honor, I am also in receipt of a motion and request on the partof the Prosecution asking that you be allowed to receive or certain documents be delivered to you.I believe they are with respect to this matter.I raise this up only to show the Honorable Court that we are ready to meet this issue head on. SoI would ask, Your Honor, if we be given a continuance.The Presiding Officer. How about the matters presented here earlier about PSBank?Mr. Roy. Your Honor, when the Chief Justice testifies, I believe these questions can bepropounded at that time.The Presiding Officer. All right.Mr. Roy. I do not think there is any purpose of evasion.The Presiding Officer. No, I am not asking that.Mr. Roy. On his part, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. I am just asking a question.Mr. Roy. Yes, yes. I wish to assure you of the forthright intention of the Chief, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. I know that, I know that.Mr. Roy. Thank you.The Presiding Officer. We are happy that you are now cooperating with us.Mr. Roy. It has always been our intention, Mr. President. Thank you.Representative Tupas. Your Honor, Mr. President.The Presiding Officer. Wait a minute. Let him finish.