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Aguirre helped ensure orderly drug hearing, congressman says

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CUEUR6TnaPA" width="420"></iframe></figure>MANILA - Congressmen allowed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to take over questioning of witnesses in its investigation on the illegal drug trade to ensure the smooth flow of the proceedings, a lawmaker leading the probe said Wednesday.Allowing lawmakers to take turns asking questions will be &quot;very difficult,&quot; Oriental Mindoro Rep. and justice committee chairman Reynaldo Umali said, adding, &quot;May kanya-kanyang istorya na gustong palutangin bawat isa [Each one is pursuing a different story].&quot;&quot;Paano po natin maiintindihan ang buod ng mga pangyayari at sitwasyon kung hindi natin pagbibigyan ang Department of Justice, na nangangasiwa diyan [How could we understand the the events and the situation if we do not give way to the Department of Justice, which is in charge],&quot; he said.Witnesses including detained crime lord Herbert Colanggo testified during Tuesday&#x27;s hearing that Sen. Leila de Lima received payoffs from drug lords when she was justice secretary.De Lima, an outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s bloody war on drugs, denied the charge.While yielding to Aguirre was a break from convention, Umali said it did not violate House rules.&quot;Si Secretary Aguirre is not the lawyer of these witnesses. Siya kasi ang nag-imbestiga. Iyung kanyang ginawa kahapon ay part ng kanyang [He investigated them. What he did yesterday was part of his] narration,&quot; he said.The committee hearing will resume at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after a marathon 11-hour-long session the previous day. Umali said at least two &quot;explosive&quot; witnesses will be presented.

Congressmen allowed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to take over questioning of witnesses in its investigation on the illegal drug trade to ensure the smooth flow of the proceedings, a lawmaker leading the probe said Wednesday.

Congressmen allowed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to take over questioning of witnesses in its investigation on the illegal drug trade to ensure the smooth flow of the proceedings, a lawmaker leading the probe said Wednesday.