Record of the Senate - Integrated Bar of the Philippines

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 73Mr. Roy. Yes, Mr. Senator, may I respond?Senator Pimentel. Yes.Mr. Roy. If I comprehend the tenor of what you are saying, you are going to ask the HonorableCourt to reconsider its position of the TRO?Senator Pimentel. Right.Mr. Roy. May I request that if there are any complications regarding the TRO and any informationis going to fall within the ambit of the TRO, let it be by waiver rather than by rejection. Perhaps, thatmight be a more palatable turn of events, Mr. Senator.Senator Pimentel. Yes. But, you know, it is my personal opinion. So, I also premised my voteon that ground that it is a temporary vote, as far as I am concerned, to respect the TRO issued bythe Supreme Court, hence, I am informing the Senate President and my colleagues that I amreconsidering my vote and it is from 13-10. It should now be counted as 12-11. I am now voting infavor of enforcing our order for PSBank and the other banks to now divulge to the Impeachment Courtall data and information regarding the foreign currency accounts of the respondent.Mr. Roy. Mr. Senator....Senator Pimentel. But it is still a minority decision. And then, Your Honor, if possible, if wecould revisit the resolution dated February 13 in a caucus on Monday, Your Honor.I so move.Mr. Roy. Mr. President, may I just....The Presiding Officer. Just a minute.Mr. Roy. It is a short statement, Mr. President.The Presiding Officer. Anyway, there is a promise here that the Chief Justice is coming to thisCourt to testify. And, at that point, I assume, given his stature and the importance of his credence asa magistrate “to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God” and hears this statement everso often when he presides over the proceedings of the Supreme Court, then we may ask him, at thatpoint, to motu proprio tell, instruct the bank to release his foreign currency bank accounts. So, wewill wait until that time.Senator Sotto. May we recognize Senator Lacson, Mr. President, before....The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Cavite.Senator Lacson. Thank you, Mr. President. Since the Defense panel team is here, I would liketo ask you if the Chief Justice would be willing to, in effect, sign a waiver.Mr. Roy. We did not go that far, Mr. Senator. Let us not....Senator Lacson. If he takes the witness stand and you will just invoke R.A. No. 6426, then wewill go back to zero.Mr. Roy. If I may, Mr. Senator. Let us give him an opportunity to hear first....Senator Lacson. No, I am just asking you as the Counsel. Is there a possibility for you toconvince the Chief Justice that when he takes the witness stand, he will, in effect, sign a waiver of hisrights under R.A. No. 6426?