KIKO ON SUSPENDING NBN ZTE INVESTIGATION
"Senate should not take a step in the wrong direction!"

Following the 9-6 decision of the Supreme Court favoring Neri on the issue of executive privilege, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today dismissed calls of suspending the Blue Ribbon Committee's hearings on the controversial NBN ZTE deal.

"With the SC ruling on the Neri petition, the Senate should now proceed and have Neri respond to other questions that may be raised by the Senators. The SC decision did not suspend the Senate hearings so why should that be the Senate response? The Senate must assert its position as a co-equal by proceeding with the hearings. It should not shirk from its responsibilities by suspending these hearings as if to run to one corner and weep because of the adverse decision. Like the SC justices, Senators took an oath to defend and preserve the Constitution," Kiko said.

"Suspending the hearings is a step in the wrong direction. It is a hasty retreat. We should choose to fight back. The Senate should, as an institution, within the context of the rule of law and the constitution, fight back. This is in keeping with our oath of office. The Senate must not play deaf, dumb or blind to the truth in the ZTE NBN deal as hoped for by Malacanang. " Kiko added

"With all due respect to the High Court, their decision undermines the constitutional principle of co-equality and the Senate response must be to defend the Constitution. Hence to assert our status as a co-equal and to get to the truth behind the anomalous deal, the Senate must proceed with the hearings by having Neri testify on other questions. I don't see how suspending the hearings will achieve this" Kiko ended.