Senators clash over protected witnesses

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson traded barbs with his predecessor in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Rodante Marcoleta, accusing the latter of trying to protect contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya by pushing for their witness protection bid.

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The Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing had just started when Marcoleta brought up Lacson’s pronouncement in a television interview that dismissed district engineer Brice Hernandez is a more credible witness than the Discaya couple.

Marcoleta said he brought up this “prejudicial question” about Lacson’s remarks even as he is the present Blue Ribbon chairman leading the investigation.

But Lacson said that was his “personal opinion outside of this hearing or of this hall,” which Marcoleta cannot “question.”

Lacson called for the suspension of the hearing as he and Marcoleta continued their verbal tussle.