Gordon: Palace-Senate rift remains despite concessions

Sen. Richard Gordon on Monday expects the adversarial relationship between the Senate and Malacañan to continue despite the appearance of Cabinet members in congressional budget hearings.

Gordon said the palace is putting up a lot of decoys to divert attention from questions on the legitimacy of the presidency.

He said the order limiting the attendance of government officials in congressional hearings can be a step to a one-man rule.

"When you're saying I'm not going to bring anybody there [Congress], of course you're saying 'I'm not gonna allow any Cabinet member there because I'm hiding something,'" Gordon told ANC.

He added: "There is no such thing as executive immunity. The President is invading the prerogatives of Congress."

President Arroyo has agreed to allow key government officials to attend the budget hearings on Monday as long as the questions directed at them are confined to budget and policy issues.

Her decision came despite the continued implementation of Executive Order 464, which prohibits government officials from facing congressional hearings without her approval.

First to be grilled in the Senate budget hearing on Monday was Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. DZMM reporter Jun Lingcoran said Gonzalez was asked by senators on destabilization plots, which he bared in January.

Gonzalez said his information was based on intelligence support and not on his personal opinion.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila also attended a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Monday. He told congressmen that he received memorandum 192, which allows Cabinet officials to attend budget hearings.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said the panel would ask the trade secretary questions about business permits issued to traders allegedly linked to the irregular sale of P728 million worth of fertilizers to congressmen before the 2004 polls.

A Senate investigation earlier revealed that the fertilizers were overpriced by as much as 1000 percent.

Favila said he will give any information requested by the congressmen. ABS-CBN NEWS