Quad-comm twist: Fernandez, Abante volunteer to be witnesses vs Grijaldo

Manila Bulletin

In a strange twist of events, two co-chairmen of the House quad-committee (quad-comm) volunteered to be resource persons of the mega-panel's hearing Tuesday, Jan. 21 on the topic of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration.   The co-chairmen-turned-panel witnesses were Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr.   READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/21/quad-comm-twist-fernandez-abante-volunteer-to-be-witnesses-vs-grijaldo  Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5664f6TkaeHgwBly50DWZQ/join  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Mr. Chairman, I have a point of information.

00:06With the indulgence of Congressman Zamora, yes, what is the point of information?

00:11Since the good gentlelady will be starting to ask Colonel Hector Grijaldo,

00:18this representation wishes to inform this committee that we will be inhibiting ourselves.

00:24Together with ourselves, together with, I think, to ask questions.

00:31At the same time, we can also be asked by the members of this committee.

00:36Surely, there is involvement in what happened for the research person not attending our hearings.

00:47So, that is all we want to know, that we are willing to answer questions,

00:53which will be asked by our members of this committee.

00:56Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

00:57Thank you, Congressman Fernandez.

00:59Yes, Congressman Abante.

01:01I second the motion.

01:02Okay, so we just would like to inform the members that you can also propound questions

01:09directed to our co-chairs of the committee

01:13in relation to the issue of EJK and in relation to the issue of Colonel Grijaldo's previous statement

01:23before this committee and before the Senate committee.

01:29And, Mr. Chairman, we are willing to go down and to abdicate our seat in here.

01:34May we ask you to please occupy the seats in front of the chair?

01:42Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

01:43See you eye to eye.

01:45Do we need to ask them to take their oath?

01:49Before that, did Colonel Grijaldo take his oath in the previous hearings already?

01:59You already took your oath.

02:01So, there is no need to administer the oath of Colonel Grijaldo.

02:06He has taken his oath in the previous hearings.

02:09So, may we ask both co-chairs, Congressman Abante and Congressman Don Fernandez,

02:18to occupy the seat in front of this table?

02:22Mr. Chair?

02:26Yes, Congressman Ako.

02:28Point of clarification?

02:31Yes, please proceed.

02:34Since our two chairmen already moved that questions should be asked from them,

02:41may we request that they also take the oath?

02:45And may I know whether we can cite them in contempt if they're found lying?

02:52Thank you, Mr. Chair.

02:54Thank you, Congressman Ako.

02:57Let me inform the Honorable Congressman Abante and Fernandez that since you will be one of the resource persons in this hearing today,

03:13any member who find you not cooperative or evading questions from this representation and others,

03:26there is no prohibition under our rules that we cannot cite you in contempt.

03:32So, let it be on record, Your Honors.

03:38Now, point of clarification.

03:41Yes, yes, sir.

03:42Point of clarification, Mr. Chairman.

03:45May I be informed?

03:50I think the witness, the resource person now has to wait to be recognized.

03:56Mr. Chairman, I was recognized, Mr. Chairman.

04:00No, no, really, no joke.

04:03What this representation wanted to find out, what provision of the rules contain

04:10in the taking of the oath of a member of this committee who wanted to be a part of the resource person.

04:21Mr. Chairman.

04:22Okay, hold your horses, gentlemen.

04:25Let me ask Congressman Ako to answer that query of Congressman Dan Fernandez.

04:31Mr. Chair, I think the two distinguished gentlemen were the ones who volunteered to become resource persons.

04:41We did not require them to become resource persons.

04:44And therefore, when they volunteered to become resource persons, then our rules regarding resource persons must apply.

04:52Thank you, Mr. Chair.

04:54I agree, Mr. Chair.

04:55I hope that is clear to the gentleman from Laguna.

04:59No further questions will be entertained by the Chair.

05:03Mr. Chair.

05:04From you, but from Congressman Abante.

05:06May I request that if you will be cited in contempt, that I would be arrested in my own room, Mr. Chair.

05:14That is noted.

05:16I confine my own room.

05:17That's my request, Mr. Chair.

05:19Thank you, Congressman Abante.

05:21Comsek, please take note of the request of Congressman Abante and Congressman Fernandez.

05:27Yes.

05:28Now, we will now proceed.

05:29So, with the explanation of the Vice Chairperson, Romy Ako, these representations submit to the decision of this committee.

05:36Maraming salamat po.

05:37Okay.

05:38Thank you, Congressman Fernandez.

05:39May we have our oath now, Mr. Chair?

05:41Makabawin na rin kami nito.

05:44Okay.

05:50Comsek, please administer the oath of the two distinguished gentlemen, members of the Honor of this 19th Congress.

06:00Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in this congressional inquiry?

06:09So, God help you.

06:11Sir, the oath has been administered.

06:14Thank you, Comsek.

06:15Thank you, Congressman Fernandez and Congressman Abante.

06:18Now, we will proceed with the…

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