SP public order body seeks passage of IRC management guidelines, wants law on 'summon powers'
Three major recommendations were reached by the Committee on Public Order and Security on the legislative probe of Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) operations.
First off was the consensus to terminate the proceedings followed by the decision to formulate policies governing IRC management. And thirdly, the need to come up with legislation that will empower the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) to summon resource persons in Capitol employ.
Reported in yesterday's regular session, testimonies of retired Police Senior Superintendent Juan Mabugat will be used as primary reference by the committee.
The reform policy on the other hand, will specifically address the need for the SP to have "summon powers.' As per said SP body's experience, Capitol workers and officials not granted the go-signal by higher-ups easily can 'snub' the SP probe invite.
"This August Body must enact a legislation to compel the attendance when so summoned, of all persons whose salaries, compensation and/or remunerations are paid wholly or in part by the Iloilo Provincial Government to hearings conducted by any of the committees of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan pursuant to Section 468 (a) (1) (vii) of the Local Government Code,' excerpts of the committee report went.
The committee report likewise highlighted the absence of other resource persons stating "it is worth emphasizing that the intended hearings conducted by the Committee were not fully consummated due to the deliberate refusal of resource persons, all of whom appear to be receiving salaries, compensations and/or remunerations paid fully or in part by the Iloilo Provincial Government,' the report went.
The SP probe stemmed from the February stabbing incident at the IRC. Attempted murder charge was filed against two IRC inmates with jail guards on duty suspended.
A need to check the over-all IRC management was then pushed with the investigation headed by First District Board Member Richard Garin, committee chair.