But Senate President tells lawyer his client has to show up on September 8

An executive of Manuel Villar’s alleged real estate properties narrowly avoided being arrested by the Senate for failing to attend Thursday’s ethics committee hearing over a complaint filed against his boss in relation to the controversial C5 budget insertion.

The Senate leadership reconsidered its threat to hold Anastacio Adriano in contempt after his lawyer, Atty. Gabriel Enriquez, emerged later in the proceedings.

Adriano sent a letter to the committee where he explained that he would not be able to attend the hearing because he has to settle personal concerns involving his family’s properties following his father’s death last April.
 
Personal reasons

Enriquez said that he advised his client not to attend the hearing because they are unprepared, adding that there is an established precedent that the Senate has allowed other witnesses not to appear for personal reasons.  
 
“I would like to assume full responsibility for advising him that his presence may be excused. We have not yet organized ourselves…we would not like to waste taxpayer’s money. If there is punishment, I would like to assume that punishment,” he said.  

Enriquez said that what also factored in their lack of preparations for today’s hearing is the late transmittal of the Senate summon to his client because it was allegedly sent to the wrong address.
 
Enrile said, however, that the Senate sent its notice of subpoena to the offices of Adelfa Properties Inc., Brittany Corp. and Fine Properties., companies alleged to be owned by Villar.

While he decided not to penalize Adriano, Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile reminded Enriquez that his client has to show up in the hearing on September 8, as the committee has to wrap up its investigation soon.
 
C5 controversy

Adriano was subpoenaed by the Senate to attend the probe after a Senate budget officer testified that the former asked her to realign P200-million in the 2007 General Appropriations Act for the C5 road extension project. (See: Villar man in C-5 budget probe faces arrest)

The inclusion of the said budget landed Villar in hot water after Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed in 2008 that a prior funding already existed for the same project, albeit, under a different heading. (See: Budget insertions lack transparency)

Yolanda Doblon, director general of the Legislative Budget and Research Management Office told the committee earlier that Adriano instructed her to add the budget for the Las Piñas-Parañaque link of the C-5 road.
 
She later confirmed that “Adriano” is the same person being referred to as Villar’s executive in his real estate company after Francisco showed her the executive’s pictures during Thursday’s hearing.