The inquisitorial power of Congress

SOME have made public their disapproval of the inquiries conducted by both chambers of Congress that have captured public attention lately. One critic wryly commented on Facebook: "Ginagawang hukuman ang Congreso."

I, for my part, am grateful that Congress has been persistent, persevering and exhaustive in its investigation of POGOs, the criminal activities that took place within their precincts, the war on drugs and the attendant extrajudicial killings, the graft and corruption from which those who were intimate with the powers-that-be profited handsomely and related evils. It is true, of course, that it is for the prosecutorial service of government to investigate and prosecute crime — but it is as important for the people to be apprised of the workings of criminal minds, the subterfuge, deceit and fraud by which crime is perpetrated. It has been brought to national consciousness that our local government units are susceptible to infiltration by agents and servants of a foreign government with malicious intent toward our Republic. We have also been told spine-chilling stories of bribes and orders to murder and to assassinate. We are now warned that many agencies of government may be compromised — first, because Guo Hua Ping belatedly filed a certificate of live birth that allowed her to pass herself off as a natural-born Filipino; second, because she and her associates were able to obtain from Pagcor a license to operate POGOs, and third, because she was able to beat a hasty exit from the country when it was getting too hot for her here!