Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Tuesday that revisions to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report would not affect the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) independent investigation into the officials named in the probe.
“On the question of how will it be or will it be helpful as far as we are concerned, yes. Because there were testimonies which were taken and they were done under oath during the time when the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducted its investigation,” Fadullon said in a television interview.
“Even if it does say or use the words, recommend the filing of charges, the Department of Justice will not, on the basis of that recommendation, start initiating the filing of charges because an investigation has to be conducted by our own prosecutors,” he added.
On February 10, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson announced revisions to the panel’s report, including changing the language from “recommended to be charged” to “undergo preliminary investigations” for several public officials.
The committee had initially recommended filing criminal complaints against incumbent Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, former Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy, and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials.
Fadullon stressed that there are limits to congressional investigations, noting that only the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman have the authority to formally charge officials in court.
“As to the matter of, I guess it’s just semantics, ‘yong sabihin na charging them, recommendation for charging them or that they be charged as compared to referral for preliminary investigation, it’s correct. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee can only make a recommendation for the conduct of preliminary investigation,” he said.
Nonetheless, he emphasized that testimonies, statements, and evidence gathered during the Lacson-led probe will still be valuable for DOJ’s own investigation.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla also supported this view, noting that the preserved records and testimonies from the Blue Ribbon Committee remain important.
“Pero at least, ang pagkapangalan sa kanila at ang records intact. Ang mahalaga ‘yan ang records sa Blue Ribbon Committee at lahat ng testimonies nila. ‘Yan ang mahalaga,” Remulla said.
As of the latest update, Lacson has yet to confirm whether the panel report has secured the 11 signatures required for plenary consideration.