Senate inquiry on Hello Garci won't
get in the way of pending bills, says Villar

Senate President Manny Villar today gave the assurance that the Senate investigation, touted to re-open the Hello Garci controversy, will not derail the passage of important legislation, including the bill that seeks to lower the cost of medicine in the country.

"We intend to schedule the hearings of the Committee of the Whole in such a way that will still allow the holding of public hearings on pending bills. We will continue to have plenary sessions and act on pending measures as usual in the afternoon," Villar, who is also president of the Nacionalista Party, said.

Villar said the Senate can focus on the investigation without sacrificing the passage of significant bills such as the measure lowering the cost of medicines, the bill providing compensation for victims of human rights violation, and the debates on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, among others.

"We will make every effort to strike a balance between the conduct of investigation and the passage of bills. While we view investigations as a helpful tool in crafting meaningful legislation, we also recognize the urgent need to enact laws that will address the needs of our people the soonest time possible," he said.

Villar said the Committee of the Whole, where he will be the presiding officer, will start the hearings on the Hello Garci controversy next week after all the senators have been informed of the schedule of hearings. He added that invitations to resource persons will be sent out within the week.

T/Sgt. Vidal Doble Jr., who was an Armed Forces intelligence agent, resurfaced and admitted that he belonged to the group of soldiers who wiretapped the conversations between President Gloria Arroyo and former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano manipulating the results of the May 2004 presidential elections. He said he refused to speak on the scandal for fear of his family's safety.

"The Senate is ready to provide protection to the witnesses and their families if required in order to make sure that witnesses will freely and truthfully testify," he said.