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'PSA is not above law': Sen. Francis "Tol" Tolentino chides the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) over its supposed refusal to comply with a subpoena from the Blue Ribbon Committee amid its probe on the controversial procurement of overpriced and outdated laptops for public school teachers. During the Senate's plenary debates Thursday, November 17, 2022, on the PSA's proposed 2023 budget, the Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson said a subpoena duces tecum signed by Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri was sent to the PSA for a copy of the death certificate of a notary public who legalized the agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service (PS-DBM) for the laptop purchase. The PSA, however, rejected the Senate panel's request and invoked data privacy based on an internal circular. Tolentino said the rejection was a defiance of the Senate's constitutionally-recognized mandate to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation. "If that is not indirect contempt, I don't know what to call it," Tolentino said in mixed English and Filipino. "I ask the PSA not to disrespect us like this...Respect the law, respect the Constitution, respect the Philippine Senate," he told PSA officials. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)