Palace: Executive privilege does not obstruct Senate probe into Duterte arrest

Malacañang on Tuesday said the executive privilege invoked by Cabinet members does not obstruct the Senate investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro pointed out that Cabinet members still attended the Senate hearing and responded to questions not covered by executive privilege.

“Karapatan po ng Pangulo, ng administrasyon na i-exercise itong executive privilege especially kung confidential in nature ang pag-uusapan,” she told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(No. It is the right of the President and the administration to exercise this executive privilege especially if the matter is confidential in nature.)

“Pero hindi naman po sila hindi dumalo. Sila po ay dumalo at sumagot sa mga tanong na hindi naman sakop ng executive privilege. Wala pong mahahadlangang pag-iimbestiga po rito,” she added.

(But they still attended. They attended and answered questions that are not covered by executive privilege. There is nothing that will hinder the investigation here.)

Castro noted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not stop Cabinet members from participating in the Senate probe.

On Monday, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero confirmed that he received a letter from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin invoking “executive privilege” concerning the Senate inquiry into Duterte's arrest.

“Sumulat sa akin, sumulat din kay chairperson ng kumite, Sen. Imee Marcos,” Escudero said during a press briefing.

(He wrote to me and Senator Imee Marcos, the chairperson of the committee.)

In his letter, Bersamin asserted executive privilege “against the disclosure of information” related to presidential communications solicited and received from the President’s advisers, particularly discussions held in closed-door Cabinet meetings relevant to the Senate inquiry. 

He stated that such matters are classified as privileged information.

Escudero said he did not respond to Bersamin’s letter since it was received on March 20, the same day as the Senate inquiry.

He clarified that officials had to attend hearings and could invoke executive privilege only when asked about direct conversations with the President.

On March 20, the Senate foreign relations committee held a hearing on the arrest of former President Duterte over his alleged crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.

Among those who attended the hearing were Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine Air Force commanding general Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura, and PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News