Minority solon Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. yesterday slammed the investigation being sought by no less than the House leadership on the alleged proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City during Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s term as Department of Justice Secretary.
Baguilat called it a “House inquiry in aid of harassment.”
“This proposed investigation in fact reeks of harassment and various constitutional violations as it seeks to spend people’s money on a witch hunt, forgetting that the role of Congress is primarily to make laws, not look for criminal evidence, which is an Executive function,” said Baguilat, de facto leader of the “Legitimate 8” minority in the House.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and 10 other congressmen have filed House Resolution 105 seeking an investigation on the alleged proliferation of drugs at the NBP during De Lima’s stint as Justice Secretary. Alvarez is secretary-general of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan which leads the majority coalition.
Baguilat said that the measure clearly singles out De Lima, who is his party mate at the Liberal Party.
(Ellson A. Quismorio)