A witness can only be considered “very important” if they can present solid evidence linked to the alleged irregularities in the government’s flood control projects, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said in a recent television interview.
“Nagiging ‘very important witness’ ang isang witness kung maraming ire-reveal na dokumentado, na ika nga’y may value, at may resibo, o may ebidensiya,” Sotto emphasized.
His statement came after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed that a “very important witness” is expected to appear in the next Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Sotto also cautioned that storytelling alone is not enough to establish credibility: “Kasi madaling gumawa ng kuwento, madaling magsalita ng kuwento [pero] anong pruweba mo? I think that’s very important.”
The Senate chief reminded the public that the Blue Ribbon Committee is not a prosecutorial body, but one that conducts inquiries in aid of legislation.
“The Blue Ribbon Committee, just as a reminder to everyone, is not a prosecutorial body. We are there in aid of legislation. So what we bind to find out is how this will never happen again,” Sotto explained.