Thursday, March 06, 2008 (Philippines)

MINE in Linut-od, Argao, Cebu is shut down. Inset: Cecilia Alberca with photo of her son Sonny who died with another mine worker in Sunday’s explosion. (Sun.Star Photo/Allan Cuizon) PRESIDENT Arroyo revoked yesterday a controversial order that had blocked Cabinet members and other officials from testifying in a Senate probe into a corruption scandal battering her administration. At the same time, however, her chief legal counsel Sergio Apostol pointed out that President Arroyo retains the right of executive privilege, since that is guaranteed by the Constitution. President Arroyo made the decision after meeting with influential Roman Catholic bishops, who demanded last week that she lift Executive Order 464. That order barred officials from testifying in the Senate without her permission. [full story]