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Palace sets new bar
to attending probes Invokes SC on lack of Congress
rules
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday
said Cabinet members would invoke the Supreme Court ruling
requiring the publication of rules of procedures before
appearing in any of the congressional inquiries particularly in
the Senate.
Ermita, in a press briefing at the Aplaya
Resort in Calatagan in Batangas, said the Supreme Court, voting
10-5, last Friday ruled that Section 21 of Article VI of the
Constitution requires the publication of the ground rules or
rules of procedures that would be observed in the conduct of
inquiries.
The 14th Congress, despite its conduct of
several inquiries, has yet to publish its rules of procedures.
THE United Opposition (UNO) yesterday asked
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to suspend all business dealings with
the Arroyo government to preserve the good standing and
reputation of the People's Republic of China before the global
community.
The request was contained in a letter sent to
Premier Wen by UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay
through Chinese Ambassador Song Tao.
"We believe that a policy of temporary
disengagement by Chinese companies from the present Philippine
leadership will promote good relations between our two
countries," Binay said.
Gloria off to HK for invest forum; protesters ready ‘hot’
welcome
BY REGINA BENGCO
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday left for Hong Kong
to attend the 11th Credit Suisse Asia Investment Conference and
meet with the Filipino community and foreign investors.
Arroyo boarded PAL flight 306 at around 2:45
p.m. at the NAIA Centennial Terminal, accompanied by First
Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves,
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Trade Secretary Peter Favila,
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., and deputy presidential
spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo.
Bunye, in an ambush interview, dismissed the
plan of a militant Filipino workers group to greet the President
with a rally.
