MANILA, Philippines – Ipinag-utos ng Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform ang pag-iisyu ng show cause order laban kay Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Elizer Salilig sa hindi nito pagdalo sa public hearing ng panel.
Ayon kay Panel head Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, inaatasan si Salilig na ipaliwanag kung bakit hindi siya dapat i-cite for contempt sa bigong pakikipag-ugnayan sa komite sa hindi nito pagdalo.
“He only did not fail to inform this committee properly of his inability to attend, they were also late, his representatives were late,” ayon pa sa senador.
“Therefore, this chair will entertain a motion – a show cause motion – for Dir. Elizer Salilig to explain why he should not be cited in contempt of this committee for [his] failure to properly inform this committee of his absence, number one, and for delaying the proceedings of his committee because of his subordinates,” ani Pangilinan.
Sinuportahan naman ni Senador Raffy Tulfo ang mosyon ni Pangilinan.
“There is a motion and seconded so Director Elizer Salilig is instructed to explain in writing why he should not be cited in contempt for failing to properly inform this committee of his inability to attend and for delaying the proceedings of this committee,” ayon kay Pangilinan.
Ipinaliwanag naman ni Assistant Director Isidro Velayo, nagrepresenta sa ahensya, na ang dahilan ng kanilang late na pagdating kasama ang iba pang opisyal ng BFAR ay dahil mayroon silang meeting sa opisina.
“I would like to apologize for our delayed arrival. As a matter of fact, we just came from the office. We had this short briefing with our national director. It so happened, Sir, that we also have a simultaneous congressional hearing today,” ani Velayo.
Idinagdag pa na kahapon lamang sila nasabihan na kailangan nilang humarap sa pagdinig ng panel ngayong araw.
Dahil dito, tinanong ni Pangilinan ang committee secretary kung kailan naiadala ang imbitasyon at sinabing ito ay naipadala noon pang nakaraang lingggo.
Kasalukuyang dinidinig ng komite ang mga panukalang batas sa Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act; amendment sa Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998; Municipal Fisherfolk Protection Act; Pantawid Pambangka Act; at Bantay Dagat and Incentives Act. RNT/JGC
