LOOK: Cayetanos, Marcoleta, Padilla, Imee Marcos now at Senate for Blue Ribbon probe — ANC

[0:00] Senator Pia Cayetano is now speaking. Let's listen in. [0:33] Senator Legarda is still alive. He needs 13. The officers of the Senate shall be elected by the majority vote of all its members. Senator Legarda is still alive. He's still alive. He's still alive. He's still alive. [0:47] That's why he can't be able to have another Senate president pro temp. I also say this for the sake of our staff. It's a little-little in the work of our partners. [0:56] That's the reason why we're still alive because I would happily give up this position. You know, I don't want to be chairman here. I'm just doing my job. [1:06] So I just needed to lay that on the basis so that I don't issue why I'm hearing and why we have a hearing today. [1:14] I have a longer speech, but because of the events that have transpired, I want to give the floor to the Senate president. [1:23] And then I will turn this over to the subcommittee chairman, Senator Marco Letta. I have already issued a letter to him. Later on, babasahin ko. [1:32] Nasa karapatan ko din po yun as chairman of the committee. Kine-question din yun nung sinabi ni Senate president na magkakaroon ng subcommittee. [1:41] Napakaliwanag din sa rules namin. The chairman can create any subcommittee anytime. It can be verbal. It can be written. It can be text. [1:51] Lahat na ng versions na yun ginawa ko. So valid po itong pag-create din natin ng subcommittee. In any case, nandito din po ako. [1:58] Pero may hearing din po akong isa tungkol sa taxation. Baka mamaya kailangan ko din sunduin sa baba yung mga maghihiring ng mga kasama kong resource person for taxation. [2:09] Anyway, I will give the floor to the Senate president. Thank you. [2:13] Katotohanan, basis ng ating paniniwala sa Diyos, basis ng ating paniniwala sa isa't isa sa lipunan na to, basis ng ating 1987 constitution ay katotohanan. [2:27] Let's start out and make this very clear. This is not against the administration. This is not for the administration. This is not for any political party. [2:37] I ran in 2022 as an independent. I became Senate president with 13 people with different political belief. This is about the truth. [2:48] So let me read this into the record. Revised penal code as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 264 restored by EO No. 187. [2:57] Acts tending to prevent the meeting of the Assembly and similar bodies. The penalty of prisión correctional or a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 pesos or both shall be imposed upon any person who by force or fraud prevents the meeting of the National Assembly, Congress of the Philippines or any of its committees or subcommittees, constitutional commissions or committees or divisions or any political board or city or municipal council or board. [3:24] Article 114. [3:25] Article 114. As amended by Commonwealth Act 264 as restored by EO 187. Disturbance of proceedings. The penalty of arresto mayor or a fine of 200 to 1,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who disturbs the meeting of the National Assembly or any of its subcommittees. [3:41] Subcommittees, committees or subcommittees, constitutional commissions or committees or committees or division thereof or any provision provincial board or city municipal council or board or prevent or in the presence of any such body should behave in such a manner as to interrupt its proceeding or to impair the respect due to it. [4:00] I shouldn't have to read this. We do not want to put the Senate staff in the middle. But I invite the Blue Ribbon Committee staff. I invite the staff of the Senate while thanking the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, thanking the ladies and gentlemen who opened the doors to us today, who assisted Senator Pia to make sure that our resource persons are here today. [4:31] As a point of order, Madam Chair, Rule 3, the President, his duties and powers, Section 3, Letter E, to have general control over the session hall, the antechambers, corridors, offices of the Senate. [4:51] Nandyan din yung power to dismiss any employee for cause, which dismissal in the case of permanent classified employee shall be in conformity with the civil service laws. [5:00] I agree, let's not put the burden on the employees, but now it's a matter of conscience. [5:07] Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, you know the law. You work for the Senate. You work for lawmakers. You work for the Republic of the Philippines. [5:16] Alam nyo kung ano'ng tama't mali. [5:18] Dun sa hindi nakakasiguro, let me read you the rule. [5:20] Section 1, the Senate shall elect in the manner provided, hereafter provided, a President, a President pro tempore, a Secretary, a Sergeant at Arms. [5:30] This officer shall take their oath of office before entering the discharge of their duties. [5:36] Section 2, the officers of the Senate shall be elected by a majority vote of all its members. [5:43] All its members, 13 po ang kailangan. [5:45] Should there be more than one candidate, etc. [5:48] So, the legitimate Senate President pro tempore is Loren Legarda. [5:53] Our Senate Secretary is Jose Luis Montales. [5:57] Sabi po sa Section 4C, pwedeng magkaroon ng acting if, in the event of resignation, hindi po ako nag-resign. [6:08] In the event of removal, tinanong ko sa mga kapatid natin sa media kapon, did they remove us yesterday? [6:13] You need a vote of 13 to remove us. [6:16] Am I dead? Death? I don't think I'm dead. [6:24] Absolute incapacity of the President. [6:26] Siguro naman po, I'm in control of my faculties, physical and mental, emotional and spiritual. [6:31] Ano po ang sabi ng Section 10? [6:34] Ipalagay na po natin, yung sinabi ni Senator Pia ay mali. [6:38] Ipalagay na natin na yung katahimikan ng lahat ng mga dean ng ma-law school ngayon, [6:42] na sunod-sunod ang kanilang manipesto, pero kahapon tahimik silang lahat dahil alam nilang mali. [6:48] At hindi malturo sa kanilang mga sudyante. [6:52] Sabihin nyo na po. Sabihin nyo na tama yung kahapon. [6:55] Ano sabi ng Section 10? [6:57] The term of office of the President, the President pro-tempore, the Secretary and Sergeant of Arms, [7:02] shall begin upon their election and shall end when their successors shall have been elected. [7:10] Nahalal na po ba yung kapalit ko? [7:11] Yung nag-presscon po kanina, nahalal ba siya bilang Senate President? [7:18] Hindi po. [7:19] Siya mismo nagsabi, naghihintay pa sila ng 13. [7:21] So, ladies and gentlemen, we will continue to function. [7:25] Hindi po kami magpag-away, hindi po kami kapituko, walang violence sa aming mga buto. [7:31] Pero ipaglalaban namin ang Pilipino, ang konstitusyon at ang katotohanan. [7:36] So, may I invite all Senators to join us in this hearing and succeeding hearings. [7:43] The credibility of the gentlemen in front of us will be tested. [7:47] So, dun sa nagsasabing hindi toto ang kanilang sinasabi, pumunta na po kayo dito ngayon. [7:51] Hihintayin namin kayo para pagkatapos nila magsalita. [7:56] Matesting natin, masubukan natin, macross-examine natin. [8:00] Then the Filipino people will know who is telling the truth. [8:04] Thank you very much, Madam Chair. [8:05] Let me just acknowledge the presence of Senator Dante Marcoleta, who is our subcommittee chair. [8:12] I will acknowledge him. [8:14] I am acknowledging him, but I'll turn over the floor to him in a minute. [8:17] Senator Amy Marcos and Senator Robin Padilla. [8:20] So, everyone, I have here my letter. [8:24] This is signed. [8:26] I signed this officially on June 2, but I informed him a week before that [8:31] that as the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, [8:36] I am designating Senator Marcoleta as the chairperson of the subcommittee authorized [8:41] to conduct a mutu-proprio inquiry in aid of legislation on the Philippine underwater [8:47] privilege speech of Senator Laxon, flooded gates of corruption, flooded gates of hell, etc., etc. [8:52] And I will just read to you section 20 of the Senate Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries [8:58] in aid of legislation which provide section 20 subcommittees, delegation of authority. [9:03] The chairman of a committee may create subcommittees as may be deemed necessary for the purpose [9:08] of performing any and all acts which the committee as a whole is authorized to do and perform. [9:14] So, claro po yun. [9:18] Sayang lang kasi ang time at ang energy ng lat ng tao na yung mga kasamahan mismo natin sa Senate [9:24] ay nagbibigay po ng reason for people to doubt that this subcommittee is authorized to be formed. [9:31] It is. [9:31] So, it's very clear na rules. [9:33] Hindi na ito dinedebate kung gusto lang naman ang mga tao na maliwanag. [9:36] So, on that note, I will move to the side so Chairman Dante can take over and then I will [9:44] also be in a taxation hearing later but I will be able to stay for a while. [9:48] Thank you.