Joker questions Guingona's order to arrest Junjun Binay

MANILA, Philippines - Former Sen. Joker Arroyo questioned on Tuesday the validity of Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona's order to cite Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr. with contempt and order his arrest.

Arroyo noted that Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto Guingona Jr. based his order on the amendment to the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation which allows the chair and at least one member of the committee to cite in contempt any witness.

According to Arroyo the Senate adopted the said amendment in Feb. 6, 2013 before the close of the 15th Congress.

Before the amendment, a majority vote from a Senate Committee is needed to punish any witness for contempt.

"The question arises. Is the Guingona order valid? That the Chairman and one member can act for anfd in behalf of the 20-member Blue Ribbon Committee and order the arrest and detention of a resource person?" Arroyo said in a statement.

The former chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Arroyo urged the senators to review current rules.

"Only three out of the 20-member Blue Ribbon Committee participate in the hearings. Three are detained, and 14 are indifferently being absent. Can three speak for the 20?  It’s time the Senate revisit the rules," Arroyo said

The former senator added that the Senate should be recommending investigations to the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice to investigate once they discover officials or persons guilty of certain offenses but not mete out the punishment.

Arroyo further explained that the investigation for the Makati City Hall Building II has been going on for five months but no reports have been submitted.

"The problem is that this proceeding has lasted too long already," Arroyo said, adding that the hearings may run until May.

There has been a confusion in the Senate over the procedure taken by the Blue Ribbon committee when they ordered the arrest of Binay.

Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III argued that nine members or half of the committee should have signed the order to carry out the detention of Binay and five others.

On the other hand, Senate President Franklin Drilon said that he has not received a copy of the order and that he was not aware that the meeting took place.

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