It is not necessary to invite the head of PSG, Durante, to the Senate hearing – Drilon

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. Screenshot / file photo of the Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines – It is no longer necessary to invite the Brigade Chief of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). General Jesus During III at the Senate hearing on the nation’s vaccination program, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday.

Drilon said this after President Rodrigo Duterte warned Congress against “tinkering” with the controversial early inoculation involving PSG using the unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.

In a radio interview, Drilon acknowledged that Duterte has the power to invoke “executive privileges” to prevent During from appearing before Congress in light of the recent PSG controversy.

Drilon explained that executive privilege is a recognized power of the president under Executive Order 464, which has been ratified by the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court says that is valid, but for the subject of the investigation, not because you are a member of the Cabinet or whatever agency you are exempt from. Importantly, the basis for the invocation of executive privilege. have a basis, not arbitrary, ”Drilon said in an interview with DZBB.

(According to the Supreme Court, that is valid but based on the reason on the subject of the investigation, it is not, because you are a member of the Cabinet or belong to any agency, that does not mean that you are already exempt. What is important, the reason for invoking executive privilege. There must be a basis, not just arbitrary.)

Drilon, however, noted that an executive privilege cannot prevent Congress from fulfilling its constitutionally ordered duty to investigate, in aid of legislation, issues such as the entry of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines into the country.

The senator said that the Senate can invite other sources of information, in addition to PSG.

When asked if the Senate will no longer invite Durante to the Senate hearing, Drilon said: “Hindi na kailangan [No longer needed]. “

Drilon repeated this sentiment in a separate statement, saying “[t]There is nothing stopping Congress from getting information to aid legislation from other resource people, ”especially with recent reports that 100,000 Filipino Gaming Operators (Pogo) workers were vaccinated in the country.

“The Senate must exercise its mandate to deeply analyze the issue in order to fill the loopholes in the law that gives authority to the Food and Drug Administration,” Drilon said in the statement.

“The Senate must continue with the hearing, especially in light of the revelation that 100,000 Pogo workers were vaccinated in the country. This is illegal. To assist legislation, the Senate must obtain information from other sources on how to strengthen the FDA and Customs Office to prevent similar episodes in the future, “he added.

Executive privilege limitations

Drilon said Executive Order 464 was issued by then-former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005, requiring all executive branch heads of departments to obtain the president’s consent before appearing before any congressional investigation.

However, Drilon said that power is limited to certain types of information, such as presidential conversations, correspondence and discussions in closed-door cabinet meetings.

Drilon said the Supreme Court also said that information on military and diplomatic secrets and those affecting national security, and information on investigations of crimes by law enforcement agencies prior to the prosecution of the accused were exempted from the right to information.

However, the President of the Senate, Vicente Sotto III, has said that the upper house investigation will focus on the national government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

Any other off-topic issues, including the PSG controversy, can be addressed in a separate hearing, Sotto said.

JPV

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