Senators clash during inquiry

Committee Chair Leila De Lima pacifies Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Antonio Trillanes during the Senate probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings at the Senate in Pasay City.( INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)

Senators clashed on Thursday over the testimony of a confessed assassin, who tagged President Rodrigo Duterte as being behind the bombing of a mosque and killings of several people in Davao City.

A verbal exchange ensued first between Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Leila de Lima when the former asked the witness, Edgar Matobato, who would replace Duterte if the latter was removed from office.

When Matobato could not immediately give an answer, Cayetano questioned how the witness could remember all other names he mentioned except that of Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Ahh si Ma’am Leni Robredo,” the witness finally said during the joint hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, and public order.

When De Lima, chairman of the justice committee, took the mic to clarify some questions for the witness, Cayetano immediately cut her off and reminded her that she was not Matobato’s lawyer.

“The record will speak for itself…Madam chair, you’re not his lawyer. You are the chairman of this committee,” Cayetano said.

“I know,” De Lima shot back.

But Cayetano said, “He knows what the question is, huwag na nating turuan. I’ve been a member of Congress for 18 years, hindi po kami ini-interrupt ng chairman pag kami na ang nagsasalita, pag kami na po ang magtatanong.”

The lady senator retorted, saying Cayetano’s statement was not true.

Cayetano went on, saying, “You can interject but it’s within my rights Madam chair so may I plead with you, you brought the witness here, nagte-testify siya, I’m testing his credibility, I’m testing his motives. Can you just allow me to do it my way?”