Cayetano-led Blue ribbon hearing proceeds without Senate secretary, stenographers

MANILA, Philippines — The Blue Ribbon Committee, led by the Cayetano bloc, proceeded without a Senate secretary or stenographers present.

The panel, presided over by Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano, Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos on Thursday, June 4, heard the testimonies of 18 Marines based on the affidavit they submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The absence of a Senate secretary and stenographers during the committee hearing was confirmed by several personnel from the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms whom Philstar.com spoke with.

During the hearing, the 18 former soldiers named several current and former lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as members of the clergy and the International Criminal Court.

The hearing took place after earlier tensions arose when Senate security personnel and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla tried to block the former soldiers from entering the Senate.

The former soldiers were only able to enter the Senate premises with the assistance of Sen. Pia Cayetano and Sen. Robin Padilla.

Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said that the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, would push through on Monday, June 8.

"Resource persons hindi pwedeng makapasok dahil walang hearing. So, that's a that's part of our protocol," Gatchalian earlier said.

(Resource persons cannot enter because there is no hearing. So, that's—that's part of our protocol.)

The role of Senate secretary, stenographers

According to the Rules of the Senate, under Rule V, Section 7(b), the Senate secretary is mandated to attend sessions of the Senate.

Although there is no express provision requiring the Senate secretary to attend committee hearings, the Rules of the Senate state that the secretary shall "keep a record and journal of the proceedings" and "certify them himself."

While stenographers are not explicitly mandated by a specific rule, the constitutional requirement under Article VI, Section 16(4) that each House keep a journal necessitates someone to record proceedings verbatim.

The Legislative Debate Reporters' Service, which includes stenographers, performs this function.

The secretary's duty to keep and certify the journal and record effectively requires stenographic support to produce the verbatim transcript that becomes part of the official Record of the Senate under Rule XX, Section 57, which states that the record "shall reflect in detail everything that has been said, done and read in the sessions."