Duterte eager to answer legality of orders
Published on: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
By: PNA
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MANILA: President Rodrigo Duterte said he is “most eager” to answer the legality of his order prohibiting executive branch officials, particularly Cabinet members, from attending the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings on the alleged overpriced procurement of medical supplies against Covid-19.During the prerecorded “Talk to the People” aired Monday night, Duterte welcomed the move of the Senate Blue Ribbon’s panel to challenge before the Supreme Court (SC) the legality of his order.
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“If you remember I have a memorandum prohibiting the Cabinet members and all executive officials appearing in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing without my permission,” Duterte said.
Over the past three months, the committee panel, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, has been conducting motu proprio inquiry into the procurement of the medical supplies through private firm Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation at the onset of the pandemic last year.
On Oct. 4, Duterte signed the memorandum for all officials and employees of the Executive Department to ignore the summons of the Senate panel.
Gordon said Duterte’s memorandum “restrained” the Legislative Branch from performing its work.
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“At last, the members of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee have finally seen the light. We welcome this move of bringing the legality of the memorandum to the Supreme Court and we would like to congratulate the members for realizing—albeit late—that (it) is the court, which should eventually decide on the constitutionality of the order. And we will defend it,” Duterte said.
Duterte said executive officials attending the hearings have to wait for a long time but are not even called to talk, “and sometimes, they are being insulted instead of being probed.”
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“This is not a feudal time. You have to be courteous. If you want to be treated with courtesy, you have to practice it,” he said.
Duterte said his “disagreement” with the Senate Blue Ribbon panel may be settled in the Supreme Court.
“But we are not saying that we have the best minds here. It’s the question of the law and an issue of law and you know – it could go either way. You win, you lose,” he said, referring to his memorandum.
Duterte noted that “this is by far the most decent thing” the committee has done.
“We are most eager to answer whatever question you have regarding my not allowing officials of the executives to attend your hearing that are legislative purposes,” he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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