Tensions rose among the Senators on Wednesday due to the sudden transfer of custody of former DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, as reported by RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas.
During the senate session, the opposition, particularly Senators Alan Cayetano, Rodante Marcoleta, and Bato Dela Rosa, questioned Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on why he allowed the transfer of Hernandez to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, even though the Senate has a standing contempt order against him.
This came after Sotto admitted that he received a call from House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who requested that Hernandez be placed under their custody, citing concerns for his safety while under Senate detention. As a result, Sotto decided to have Hernandez detained at the PNP Custodial Center.
However, Senators from the minority group disagreed with the decision and believed that the Senate should not agree to the House of Representatives' request to transfer the former district engineer to their custody.
“Hindi po ‘yan gawain ng senado, na mang-impluwensya ng resource person. Never pa nangyari ‘yan na merong pumunta do’n sa baba, tinakot yung nakakulong, cited in contempt na resource person,” Dela Rosa expressed.
Dela Rosa also stated that such tactics were common practice in the House, citing the case of Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo, who was detained by the House Quad Committee after refusing to comply with their demands.
He was not released and remained in detention until the end of the 19th Congress.
“Hindi natin sila dapat sundin sa kung anong kagustuhan nila. We have to stand on our own,” he firmly added.
Furthermore, Marcoleta was also displeased, as they were not even consulted regarding the transfer of custody of Hernandez.
“Ibig ba sabihin Mr. President, nawawala ang bisa ang ginawa namin?” Marcoleta asked, arguing that they should have been consulted because it was the Senate that held Hernandez in contempt, and he himself was the Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee at that time.
Sotto then clarified that by the time Romualdez called him, Marcoleta was no longer the Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Meanwhile, Hernandez will be transferred to the Pasay City Jail following a motion by Senator Jinggoy Estrada to have him committed there.
The motion was seconded by Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri and supported by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Senator Ping Lacson. Sotto then approved the motion after no senators objected.
It was previously reported that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited Hernandez in contempt on Monday for repeatedly refusing to confirm alleged details about his involvement in casino activities.
Hernandez also mentioned Senators, namely Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, being linked to anomalous flood control projects at the House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday, to which both senators have denied the accusations.
