IBP urges Duterte to reconsider order for gov’t officials to snub Senate probe

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to bar Cabinet members from attending the Senate investigation into the alleged overpriced medical supplies bought by the government last year.

Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of the Senate vs. Ermita, the IBP said that the power of Congress to compel the appearance of executive officials is based on the principle of separation of powers.

“While the Executive branch is a co-equal branch of the legislature, it cannot frustrate the power of Congress to legislate by refusing to comply with its demands for information,” it said.

Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairperson Richard Gordon also raised the case of Senate vs. Ermita when he argued that their investigation did not cover issues of "national security, executive privilege, and diplomatic discussion.”

“We thus urge the President to reconsider his decision to bar his Cabinet from attending the Senate investigation on the alleged irregularities in the Department of Health (DOH) spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic program,” the IBP said.

“It is only by granting our Congress free access to information that we can empower them to formulate policies that fully reflect the will of our people,” it added.

The Philippine Bar Association has also criticized Duterte's directive, saying that it “upsets our system of checks and balances” and “transgresses the doctrine of separation of powers” among the three branches of government.

Duterte, however, said he did not want Cabinet officials caught up in the hearings as they also have to attend to COVID-19 matters.

Senators have been scrutinizing the purchases of COVID-19 supplies made by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service last year, during which Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation bagged more than P8 billion in government contracts.

The medical goods delivered by Pharmally were allegedly overpriced.

Duterte has repeatedly denied that there was overpricing in the emergency purchases. He also criticized Gordon’s handling of the inquiry.

"It has become evident that the said hearings are conducted not in aid of legislation, but to identify persons to hold accountable for alleged irregularities already punishable under existing laws," the Palace memorandum read.— VBL, GMA News