MANILA, 8 September 2006 — Administration and opposition senators yesterday said that the Senate's relations with the Executive Branch has gone sour again and that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her top aides have themselves to blame if a full-blown confrontation erupts.
The senators were bracing yesterday for war, saying the repeated refusal of Arroyo’s executives to show up in Senate hearings was unacceptable.
“The moment a committee recommends to cite anyone with contempt, I will sign it. There are several penalties including warrant of arrest and we are ready to do that if necessary. We will protect the right of the Senate,” Senate President Manuel Villar said as complaints from his colleagues mounted.
Malacañang had earlier welcomed Villar’s election as Senate chief in July. It said it was willing to resume good relations with the Senate under a new leadership.
The Arroyo administration has had almost no dealings with the chamber after then Senate President Franklin Drilon announced in June 2005 that he was withdrawing support for Arroyo, who had been accused by the opposition of winning in the 2004 elections by means of fraud.
Arroyo issued Executive Order 464, which required Cabinet members and other officials connected with the executive from appearing before the Senate and facilitating investigations, even if these were in aid of legislation.
The Supreme Court nullified E0 464 early this year but the president, through presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, issued Memorandum Circular 108 which contained guidelines on appearances of department heads and other officials of the executive department before Congress.
As a result, Arroyo’s officials continue to snub the Senate committee hearings. Among those who refused to attend Senate hearings were officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, National Disaster Coordinating Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Professional Regulations Committee (PRC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Labor and Employment and National Bureau of Investigation.
Sen. Richard Gordon, a member of the president’s coalition, yesterday said he would start issuing arrest warrants for officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) if they did not appear before the hearing on the alleged irregularities involving Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat) next week.
“This is the last time. Show cause first. But if they do not appear on Sept. 11, then I will order their arrests,” Gordon said on television.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel said the Senate had reached a consensus on the decision to arrest government officials who snub Senate committee hearings.
“We have had several conferences on this among ourselves and the decision is practically unanimous. We have to assert our rights and order the arrests of people who defy, let us say, summons and subpoenas issued by the Senate,” Pimentel said.
Also yesterday, the Senate has ordered PRC chair Leonor Tripon-Rosero, two PRC commissioners and an NBI official to “show cause” why they should not be held in contempt for snubbing its inquiry into the leakage-tainted June nursing board exams.
“I have written a letter to the PRC and one NBI official to explain why they should not be held in contempt for failing to respond to the subpoena last week. I gave them five days, and this is going to be up to tomorrow,” said Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the investigating committee on civil service. “I’d like to do this step by step, according to the rules. And if they don’t appear on Thursday (next week), then the next issuance would be a warrant of arrest,” he said at a forum in the Senate. (With a report from Inquirer News Service)
