Record of the Senate - Integrated Bar of the Philippines

66 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012Mr. Roy. Iyon nga po ang instruction sa akin na ipaabot sa inyo na iyong ginagawa sakaniyang pambabatikos sa labas eh gusto na niyang harapin under oath.Senator Ejercito Estrada. Eh, di paharapin ninyo na.Mr. Roy. Haharap po sa inyo. Tutal iyon pong pagkabanggit ko sa inyo was in the best lightpossible at nanonood naman po siya noong tayo ay....Senator Ejercito Estrada. You can assure the Chief Justice, if and when, he appears before thisImpeachment Court, we can assure you that he will be treated properly befitting his position as theChief Justice of this country.Mr. Roy. We do not doubt that, but thank you very much, Mr. Senator.Senator Ejercito Estrada. And I know the Senate President will not allow him to be disrespectedin this Court.Mr. Roy. Thank you very much, Mr. Senator, Mr. President.May I also manifest, Your Honor, that the Chief Justice has issues regarding the jurisdiction of theOmbudsman over him, but not jurisdiction of this Court. That is why he is willing to testify here ratherthan engage in a word war or submit to the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman.The Presiding Officer. All right. Let me clarify. You are going to ask these named persons byyou to be subpoenaed to be your witnesses.Mr. Roy. As hostile witnesses.The Presiding Officer. As hostile—Mr. Roy. Witnesses.The Presiding Officer. —witnesses. Okay, including the Ombudsman.Mr. Roy. Including the Honorable Ombudsman, who appears to have knowledge of the US$10million.The Presiding Officer. All right. Well, US$10 million and other accounts.Mr. Roy. Yes, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. All right.Mr. Roy. Whatever allegation it is.The Presiding Officer. And other accounts—peso or dollar accounts—pertaining to the respondent.Mr. Roy. That is right, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. Okay. Now, why do you include a Member of the House, likeMr. Walden Bello?Mr. Roy. We understand, Your Honor, that he is a complainant before the Office of theOmbudsman. And so, we suppose or we presume that he has knowledge about these dollar accountsor whatever allegations he is making. So, we would like to know.The Presiding Officer. He is the only Member of the House—