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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The Supreme Court decision favoring executive
privilege on the $330-million broadband deal is “a dark portent of
things to come,” Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said Friday.
“The Supreme Court ruling is a big step
backward for our efforts to uphold transparency and accountability
in government,” he added.
Voting 9-6 on Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld its
March 25 ruling that Romulo Neri, formerly chairman of the National
Economic and Development Authority, properly invoked executive
privilege in refusing to answer questions by senators about his
conversation with the President about the broadband deal with ZTE
Corp. of China.
Villar said he hoped the ruling would not give
corrupt officials with an escape from prosecution. He also hoped
that the decision would not compromise the Senate’s performance of
its oversight function. He said this function had proved to be the
bane of corrupt and incompetent officials in the Executive
department.
Sen. Pia Cayetano said she was also
disappointed with the Supreme Court. “At the same time, I salute
Chief Justice Reynato Puno and the five other justices who
dissented.” Still, she argued that the Senate blue-ribbon
committee could still continue with its broadband inquiry and summon
Neri one last time.
Her brother, blue-ribbon committee Chairman Sen.
Alan Peter Cayetano, is waiting for the testimony of former House
Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on the broadband issue this month. The
chairman added that the panel would wrap up its inquiry even if de
Venecia backs out.
The former Speaker’s son and namesake, Jose
“Joey” de Venecia 3rd, said the court ruling would allow
officials to abuse executive privilege. The younger de Venecia is
the original whistle blower of the controversial deal that was later
scuttled by President Gloria Arroyo amid a mounting public outcry.
He also owned the firm that lost the deal, Amsterdam Holdings Inc.
Bolante, who is in the US fighting deportation
to the Philippines, is being pursued by the Senate for another scam
involving fertilizer funds intended for farmers that were allegedly
diverted to the administration’s 2004 campaign.
Administration congressmen on Friday urged their
colleagues in the Senate to respect the decision by the Supreme
Court on executive privilege.
-- With William B. Depasupil and Sammy Martin
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