BECAUSE a number of witnesses or resource persons were oftentimes insulted and put in compromising situations during legislative inquiries, a legislator has proposed the adoption of a rule book to stop such practice as well as repetitive and circuitous debates and discussions.

Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza of North Cotabato made the proposal as she expressed support for the proposal of Sen. Richard Gordon to require witnesses to execute an affidavit before they appear in congressional inquiries in order to minimize lying and prevent the proceedings from turning into a “wild-goose chase” and a mere platform for political grandstanding.

Mendoza said that while both chambers have their own rules of procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation, the conduct of the members of Congress as they take turns in grilling resource persons and witnesses are sometimes “unnecessarily offensive and highly biased.”

“Sometimes, it is really disappointing that panel members would even mouth insults when they do not hear what they want to hear. And, most of the time, they even brand their resource speakers as liars when their statements run counter with their preconceived personal and political prejudices,” she said.

“Too many inquiries are going nowhere because the questioning is circuitous and freewheeling. This only fuels the suspicion that much of the proceedings, especially when the media is around, is in aid of political grandstanding,” Mendoza added.

Earlier, Gordon proposed that legislative inquiries should adopt the rules of court promulgated by the Supreme Court for use in courts all over the country.

Mendoza said that if Gordon’s proposal were adopted in inquiries, the sworn statements of witnesses will guide the panel members in their questioning, and the witnesses will have second thoughts about lying because discrepancies between their sworn statements and their testimonies will be exposed. 

Inquiries will move faster and conclude sooner and the investigating committees can then make their reports on the inquiries, along with recommended legislations, Mendoza said.

“Let us remember that inquiries are not for the entertainment of the public, but for the purpose of legislation,” she added.

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