Reyes faces Senate subpoena

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will issue a subpoena to former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes after he snubbed several invitations to attend the ongoing inquiry.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said Reyes can be charged with contempt if he ignores the subpoena. We will subpoena him formally. Meanwhile, contempt charges against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia were held in abeyance.

Guingona said there are legal issues needed to be studied further before deciding on the motion to cite Garcia for contempt.

Senator Gringo Honasan, who was present during the senators’ caucus that was held to decide on the fate of the Armed Forces generals on the issue, said more details regarding the plea bargaining agreement between Garcia and the Ombudsman are needed to be threshed out for lawmakers to determine their next move.

Retired military comptroller Jacinto Ligot, on the other hand, was temporarily spared from contempt charges since no formal motion to have him cited was raised and filed, Guingona said.
Former Rep. Prospero Pichay, who was tagged by retired Lieutenant Colonel George Rabusa as the lawmaker who allegedly received P500,000 every time he visited the office of the Armed Forces chief of staff, will also be invited to attend the Senate hearing.