MANILA, Philippines—Auditor-witness Heidi Mendoza showed up at Monday's resumption of the Senate hearings on the alleged corruption in the military despite her appeal not to be called to these hearings anymore.
Mendoza was emotional when she asked the Senate blue ribbon committee last week not to invite her to the hearings, citing the criticisms that she had been receiving from her former colleagues in the Commission on Audit.
But after getting support during the weekend, Mendoza appears to have changed her mind and decided to again appear in the hearings.
Former military comptroller Carlos Garcia was also present at the hearing amid a threat by senators to cite him for contempt and detain him in the chamber for repeatedly invoking his right against self-incrimination in last week's hearing.
Senator Jose “Jingoy” Estrada had moved to cite him for contempt but for lack of quorum, the committee failed to act on his motion.
Speaking to reporters before the resumption of the hearing, Estrada said he would pursue his motion if Garcia continues to invoke this right.
Senator Teofisto Guinona III, committee chairman, said the body needs to muster the votes of 9 of the 17 committee members to approve Estrada's motion.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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