Senate hearing sa Crame, hirit ni Sotto

Hiniling kahapon ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III sa Philippine National Police (PNP) na pahintulutan si Senator Leila de Lima na magsagawa ng mga pagdinig sa loob ng piitan nito sa PNP headquarters sa Camp Crame sa Quezon City.

Sa kanyang liham kay PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, hiniling ni Sotto sa PNP na payagan si de Lima “to exercise her functions as a duly elected senator of the country through the conduct of hearings on pending measures” na idinulog sa komite ng senadora.

Si de Lima ang chairperson ng Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development.

“As the Senate President, I am giving Senator De Lima full authority to discharge her duties as chair of the committee, particularly to conduct and personally preside over its hearings –similar to what had been done by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV during his detention,” saad sa liham ni Sotto.

“This request is being made so as the relevant measures that are currently pending in the committee will be given an opportunity to be heard and be deliberated on by the Philippine Senate, consistent with Section 24 of the Senate rules,” sabi pa ni Sotto.

Sinabi ni Sotto na kabilang sa mga panukalang nakabimbin sa komite ni de Lima ang Public Solicitation Act, pagdedeklara sa Pebrero 23 bilang National Rotary Day, Magna Carta of the Poor, Magna Carta of Day Care workers, Emergency Volunteer Protection Act, Social Welfare and Development Agencies Act, at Rural Employment Assistance Program Act.

Iginiit ng Senate President na mahalagang maisabatas ang mga nasabing panukala na nakabimbin sa komite ni de Lima, dahil pawang mula sa marginalized sector ang makikinabang sa mga ito.

Itinanggi naman ni Sotto na mismong si de Lima ang humiling sa kanya na makapagsagawa ng hearing sa PNP Custodial Center kung saan nakakulong ang senadora.