Escudero says contempt powers being used with 'absolute discretion'

Senate President Francis Joseph ''Chiz'' Escudero on Wednesday said the contempt powers of the chamber is being utilized with ''absolute discretion.''

In an interview with Palace reporters, Escudero was asked to comment on the alleged abuse of Congress of its contempt powers.

''You have only seen the ones issued by the Senate, which requires the signature of the Senate President but you did not see those that we did not issue nor did the chairman issue, nor the ones that I did not sign,'' he said.

''So it is being used with absolute discretion and is not being used very lightly, only in cases where it is absolutely necessary,'' he added. 

The Senate recently cited in contempt those allegedly involved in the illegal POGO operations, particularly in Tarlac and Pampanga. 

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality cited dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in contempt for the second time early this month for allegedly continuing to lie before the senators.

This was after Guo, whose fingerprints matched those of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, repeatedly refused to answer the senators' questions related to her true identity.

Shiela Guo, the purported sister of the dismissed mayor, was previously cited in contempt as well. It was only lifted on Monday and the senators then ordered her transfer to the Bureau of Immigration. —AOL, GMA Integrated News