President Rodrigo Roa Duterte warned the senators that he will “not allow any cabinet member to go to Congress to testify” if they continue to rudely treat the latter.
In his public address recorded on Monday (Aug. 30), President Duterte pointed out some of the senators’ rude manner of questioning in their hearings amid the senate investigation on the government’s COVID-19 response.
“Alam mo, ganito ‘yan eh, you would create a crisis here. ‘Pag ganyan ang bisyo ninyo, I will not allow any Cabinet member to go to Congress to testify,” he said.
The President criticized the senators for rudely questioning the members without them being able to complete their answers due to interruptions.
“I’m telling these senators now: Do not run the departments. Huwag kayong mag-imbestiga na kayo-kayo lang magsabi ng ganoon, ganito, ganito. You would like to run government, the departments the way you want it? Or is it because you want the publicity?”
“Kung bastusin niyo, the way you’re treating [Sec.] Duque, he cannot even complete his answer without being interrupted, you stand up, kung mapuno ka na, because i-contempt o ikulong ka man nila, maghanap ako ng paraan. Makukuha ko kayo. In 24 hours, I will extract you,” he added.
Duterte reminded the senators not to question his appointments in the executive branch since he is the “sole appointing authority.” He also asked the senators to consider the “reduced manpower of the departments” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So to the Senators, do not question who I appoint to the agencies of the executive branch. I am the sole appointing authority. In the same manner na sabi ninyo hindi ako makialam…I would like to suggest a way of action. For the senators to just whatever they intend to do or whatever they plan to do, or whatever they want to investigate, kindly — kindly consider the reduced manpower of the departments. Huwag ninyong apurahin kasi hindi ninyo maapura ‘yan. Mabuti sana kung tumutulong kayo diyan.”
He added that he will appoint people that he “knows and trusts.”
“You do not have the ascendancy to question this executive prerogative. Of course, I will appoint people I know and trust, just like other presidents before me.”
Report from Mela Lesmoras/NGS-rir
