Arroyo execs snub Senate probe of standoff coverage

Top officials of the Arroyo Cabinet skipped Thursday yet another Senate investigation, this time on the November 29 standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City. Secretaries Gilbert Teodoro (defense), Ronaldo Puno (interior and local government) and Raul Gonzalez (justice) sent a joint letter defending their actions not to attend the Senate probe. Separate reports on dzBB radio and GMA News Flash Report said they cited "national interest" in saying that they must focus on cases and investigations related to the standoff. The three reportedly told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Francis Escudero that their focus and attention must not be swayed by the hearing. The only government representatives who showed up were senior state prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco and Chair Purificacion Quisumbing of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Quisumbing's office is currently investigating the alleged maltreatment suffered by media practitioners at the hands of policemen during the November 29 standoff. Also in their letter, the three secretaries said they are busy with operations to catch personalities implicated in the standoff who remain at large. They also expressed reservations that their statements might be interpreted as "prejudice" by the courts. As such, talking about the incident before the Senate might disrupt pursuit operations and the case buildup against the suspects. For their part, representatives from media entities GMA Network Inc, ABS-CBN, NHK Broadcasting, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Malaya were present. The National Press Club and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas also sent officials to the hearing, GMA News said. As this developed, a separate public hearing was conducted also on Thursday morning on the government's privatization efforts. Arthur Aguilar, president of National Transmission Corp. (Transco), skipped the affair. The Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., whose owners have been linked to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, won the bidding for Transco's 25-year concession contract. Aguilar's absence drew the ire of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who vented her frustrations on Noel de Leon, Transco vice president and general counsel. "You, you have no right to be here! Nandito dapat yung presidente mo (Your president should be the one here)," radio dzBB quoted Santiago as scolding De Leon. - GMANews.TV