Duterte's legal counsel defends memo barring Cabinet from attending Senate probePresident Rodrigo Duterte confers with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on August 10 , 2020. MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte's legal counsel has defended Malacañang's directive for executive officials not to attend Senate hearings on the supposedly overpriced pandemic response supplies, saying preventing officials from performing their duties causes a violation of the Constitution. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the state has the duty to protect and promote the right to health of the people as commanded by the Constitution. Panelo said the Senate hearings have been "meandering to the point of practically preventing invited government officials from performing their functions and duties." Panelo also echoed Duterte's view that cases should be filed against government officials, private individuals and institutions involved in corruption or illegal transactions.

Source: Philippine Star October 06, 2021 09:21 UTC