Senate jueteng probe resumes today

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. urged the Senate committees investigating the jueteng probe yesterday to subpoena Batangas Gov. Armando Sanchez and suspected jueteng kingpin Rodolfo Pineda to the public hearings which resume today.

In a letter sent to Senators Manny Villar and Lito Lapid, chairmen of the committees on public order, and games and amusement, respectively, Pimentel said the two personalities can help lawmakers in the conduct of hearings on the popular illegal gambling racket.

Pimentel had submitted the names of Pineda and Sanchez to the two committees as early as May but they were not subpoenaed.

Sanchez, who failed to comply with the Senate’s summons, cited an official trip abroad as his reason for not attending the first hearing.

Villar is optimistic that resource persons who failed to appear during the five previous jueteng hearings will finally appear today when the Senate opens its sixth hearing at 10 a.m.

He disclosed that Rodolfo Hizon III will be one of the highlights at today’s hearings as he is set to answer allegations that he tried to bribe Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz to keep silent on the issue. The P10-million check issued to Cruz was reportedly issued from Hizon’s bank account.

"Our approach in the Senate is still one hearing at a time. Everything depends on the next hearing and on what the witnesses or resource persons would say. In fact, the schedule of the succeeding hearings are determined only after the hearing," Villar said.

Among those expected to attend the hearings today are retired Chief Superintendent Restituto Mosqueda, retired Director Rodolfo Tor, Mely Sorra and Inspector Leonito Cantollas, of the PNP Crime Laboratory, self-confessed jueteng bagwoman Sandra Cam, and other witnesses including Richard Garcia, Demothenes Abe Riva, Antonio Batacan, Leon Katigbak, Luis Maralit, Julito Bano, Maning Herrera, Gener David, Edwin Romero and Rudy Magbuhos. — Christina Mendez