President Benigno S. Aquino III will never use the controversial Executive Order 464 that prevents his Cabinet members to attend congressional inquiries like what his predecessor did to evade investigations conducted by both houses of Congress.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said in a media briefing on Friday that President Aquino would not prevent his alter ego and subordinates from attending congressional investigations.
â€Well, President Aquino has always stood for the transparency and I don’t think that we are going to be hiding behind any executive orders if we are called to hearing and we will do our best to comply and answer the questions,†Carandang said.
The Palace official also said that the Aquino government’s Cabinet men will be cooperative to all investigation in aid of legislation to be conducted by the Lower House and the Senate.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima failed to attend the Senate hearing on the controversial imposition of Expanded Value Added Tax 9EVAT) on toll roads last week.
Carandang said, Sec. Purisima’s absence in the Senate inquiry was due to simple problem of coordinating schedules but it was not intentional or any gag order from the President.
Purisima also failed to show up at the Senate hearing on the exorbitant salaries of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC’s).
â€I spokes to BIR Commissioner Kim Henares last week and she said, kaya hindi nakapunta sa hearing dahil yung notice na umabot sa kanila ay medyo late na. There’s no attempt on the part of the officials to avoid the hearings. I’m sure if there’s a better coordination, then they will attend the hearings,†Carandang said.
In the same media briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that EO 464 was already revoked after the Supreme Court has ruled that it was unconstitutional.(PNA)
RMA/rudyma
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=31427.0