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Friday, April 28, 2006
Malacañang to Senate: Respect hearing witnesses
PRESS Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Thursday they are urging the Senate not to subject those appearing in their inquiries and hearings to humiliation and harassment.
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said while Malacañang feels that the Senate should focus more on the passage of important bills like the anti-terrorism law, the tax break for small taxpayers and the 2006 national budget, it recognizes their power to conduct investigations.
"We share the public view that the Senate's time is better spent by giving priority to economic and political reforms instead of launching another grand political witch hunt disguised as innocent exercise of congressional powers. (But) there must be a healthy respect for each other's roles in our separate and independent branches of government," he said.
"The executive branch is always ready to work with both chambers of Congress so these measures could be enacted into law soon. But we also appeal to our senators to ensure a modicum of respect for those appearing in the Senate investigations instead of being humiliated and harassed as what happened in past Senate hearings," he added.
Reports said the Senate plan to reopen some of its legislative inquiries once the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) nullifying some provisions of Executive Order (EO) 464, which barred appointees from attending legislative hearings without the consent of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, becomes final and executory.
Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura said they are prepared to appeal the SC decision as soon as they get a copy of it. He said the government still has 15 days, from date of receipt, to file the motion for reconsideration. (JMR/Sunnex)
(April 28, 2006 issue)
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