The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has cited Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya in contempt for lying about his wife, Sarah Discaya’s absence during the committee hearing on Thursday, September 18.
According to Curlee, his wife had submitted an excuse letter informing the committee that she would not be in attendance due to a “valid reason.” Despite this, Curlee was unable to establish what specific ailment was cited in the letter.
Reading from the said letter, the Committee Chairman, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, said that Sarah had reasoned that she would be attending an important meeting with employees on the day of the hearing.
“Regrettably, I have an important meeting with my employees on the day of the hearing to explain the problem that the company is facing now, and the effects this has on them. This meeting was already scheduled before I received the honorable committee’s invitation this late afternoon,” the letter addressed to the committee read.
“Some of my employees will be coming from various places. Thus, I can no longer cancel the meeting set for tomorrow. As such, I am sincerely sorry that I will be unable to attend the committee hearing. I fully understand the committee’s work and [the] seriousness of the matter at hand,” it added.
The Verdict
With this, the senators concluded that Curlee had been lying the whole time about Sarah’s ailment. Senator Erwin Tulfo pointed out that Curlee had been lying and deceiving the committee, adding that the committee chairman has the power to cite him in contempt.
“Do not do that. Iba ‘yung sinasabi mo, medical condition. Kung may medical condition, sige nga, bigyan mo nga kami ng medical certificate. Iba ‘yung sinasabi mismo ng misis mo eh. Hindi ba kayo nag-usap? Sana nag-usap muna kayong dalawa. ‘Ano bang palusot ang gagawin natin sweetheart or darling?” Tulfo stressed.
Consequently, Senator Jinggoy Estrada emphasized that Sarah’s excuse is “totally unacceptable,” stating, “Ang sabi niya mayroon siyang meeting. This hearing is of national interest. Huwag niyang lolokohin itong hearing na ito. Huwag niyang bababuyin itong hearing na ito, dahil sa the Filipino people are watching. We are here to ferret out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Curlee replied, asking the committee for their forgiveness as it was not his intention to lie. Moreover, he clarified that Sarah does suffer from diabetes and hypertension and takes maintenance medicine often.
Lacson eventually approved the committee’s motion to cite Curlee in contempt over his failure to provide an established and valid reason for Sarah’s absence.
