Should ‘embarrassing’ info be made public? Bersamin says privacy, need for disclosure to be considered

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday said that in the event of "embarrassing" information about the chief executive, he would have to weigh the need to divulge the information against the need to protect the Office of the President.

The former chief justice made the remark when asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros if information that does not concern national security or public order but might "embarrass" the president would still be covered by executive privilege.

"Let me give a relative answer, not in the sense that there is a general answer, but because we have to protect the privacy of the president in greater part. If there is an embarrassing information, we have to first consider the need for disclosure," Bersamin said during a Commission on Appointments committee hearing Wednesday.

"If the need for disclosure overwhelms or overcomes the need to protect the office, then we will make a correct decision or appreciation on the matter— make the disclosures wherever they may be needed, [or] we may resolve to redaction of the information if it is printed data or do other safety measures," he added.

Hontiveros did not disclose the context of her question, but it can be recalled that Bersamin defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s unannounced trip to Singapore in October to attend a Formula 1 racing event.

Asked why the trip was kept a secret, Bersamin said, “Security."

Although he was not privy to the funding of the trip, Bersamin said there was nothing wrong if public funds were used in the trip as it was "undertaken for the interest of the Philippines."

The CA on Wednesday afternoon confirmed Bersamin's appointment as Executive Secretary. — BM, GMA Integrated News