Palace: Many items in ZTE deal confidential

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang insisted Wednesday that several matters pertaining to the canceled national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp is covered by executive privilege, which the Supreme Court affirmed when it ruled in favor of former socio-economic secretary Romulo Neri. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that with this ruling, Neri is now “armed" if he decides to finally attend the hearing of the Senate on the ZTE deal. The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled nine to six in favor of the invocation of executive privilege by Neri when he was asked to reveal the details of his communication with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the ZTE project Ermita said under the law, executive privilege covers five items, which include military, diplomatic and other national security matters; matters affecting national security and public order and “conversations and correspondence between the president and the public ;…[and] discussions in close door Cabinet meetings. Ermita said executive privilege also covers “information between inter-government agencies prior to the conclusion of treaties and executive agreements. He said the nature of the government agreement with ZTE is supposed to be an executive agreement but it has not been finalized. Ermita said the Supreme Court decision would also help Neri decide on whether he should attend the next Senate hearing. He said he is certain that Neri would still consult Malacañang on whether he should attend the hearings. “But if I were Neri, I would attend," Ermita said. He said he respects the decision of some senators to seek a reversal of the Supreme Court ruling. - GMANews.TV