Thursday 18th August, 2011(Source: Sun Star Daily)
THE ad hoc committee created by the House of Representatives will focus its efforts on alleged break-in at the Batasan Pambansa in 2005 and won't probe the results of the 2004 national elections, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. clarified.
The ad hoc committee to be headed by Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada is mandated to conduct a fact-finding investigation, verification, and gathering of all data and relevant facts relating to the reported break-ins. Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago surfaced, disclosing that a group of policemen led the switching of election returns to allegedly ensure the victory of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in case of a recount.
"If it did happen, sino-sinong responsable? Are there people who are still here that may have a hand in it? It is purely precautionary as well," he said.
The Mayuga report, which detailed the involvement of the military in the alleged 2004 election fraud, will have no bearing over the investigation to be conducted by the ad hoc committee.
The 10-inch thick report prepared by former Navy Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga is currently being reviewed by Bayan Muna party-list legislators after the recommendations arrived at by the panel were found to be questionable.
The conclusion stated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Fact Finding Board stated that "the AFP cannot be entirely faulted for some lapses in the conduct of its deputation duties" during the conduct of the 2004 polls.
Belmonte noted that the Mayuga report was written even before the alleged break-in was committed at the Batasan Pambansa complex.
Members of the ad hoc committee like any regular House panel, meanwhile, are granted powers to subpoena any individual it may compel to attend its investigations.
"It has all the powers of a regular committee except that limited jurisdiction and life," Majority Leader Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II explained.
"Like what a regular committee does, it can recommend any future remedial measures and if it warrants that a recommendation of criminal and administrative charges against responsible people, they can do that," he added.
Gonzales said the ad hoc committee cannot undo the results of the 2004 elections. Arroyo had a 1.1-million lead over actor-turned-politician Ferdando Poe Jr.