Press Release
February 4, 2008

SENATE SHOULD SEEK SC CLARIFICATION RATHER THAN EXERCISE COERCIVE POWER -- ANGARA

Says Neri should show up, invoke executive privilege

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said that the Senate should seek judicial clarification rather that exercise its coercive power on Secretary Romulo Neri, in light of the inquiry into the ZTE Corp. contract for the national broadband network project.

Angara said, however, that Secretary Romulo Neri should attend the Senate hearing on the alleged anomalous transaction, and invoke executive privilege.

"My advice to Secretary Neri is to show up, attend the hearing and plead executive privilege, rather than altogether evade appearance. That is the only way the issue can be put squarely to the test," he said.

"I'm sure the Senate will honor executive privilege," he said. "That would be the more sensible process rather than having the Senate constantly exerting its coercive power."

The Senate failed for the second time last Friday to arrest Neri who is under subpoena for congressional inquiry into the scrapped $329-million national broadband deal.

Neri has asked the Supreme Court to stop the Senate from arresting him, filing a petition for certiorari before the high court last Friday.

News Latest News Feed