By Jennylou Canon
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| PHOTO: Manila Bulletin |
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday that
the President’s decision to forbid the attendance of his Presidential Security
Group (PSG) to the Senate probe on unregistered COVID-19 vaccine usage is part
of his executive privilege to “make correct” decisions even when not favoured
by the public.
“The concept of executive privilege arises from separation
of power and the fact that the President must be allowed to make correct, even
if unpopular decisions,” Roque said in a press briefing.
Roque added that President Rodrigo Duterte’s move on blocking
PSG’s attendance is only applicable to the Senate investigation, while the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) can resume their investigations.
“Malinaw po ang mensahe ng Presidente, para po iyan sa
Kongreso,” he said.
Roque also insisted that Duterte did not know the source of
the vaccine nor how the military was vaccinated after Philippine Army Chief Lt.
Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said that Duterte made the order through the direction
of the “chain of command of the armed forces.”
“Hindi po nagpaalam, hindi nagbigay ng consent, nabalitaan
na lang niya (Duterte) na maraming nagpaturok, kaya sabi lang niya, c’est la
vie (carry on),” Roque stated.
On Monday during his weekly nation address, Duterte told PSG
Chief Jesus Durante to disobey possible summons from the Congress to testify on
the much-criticized inoculation as part of “self preservation.” Furthermore, if
they decide to attend any legislative investigation, he ordered them not to disclose
any information.
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