Palace open to dialogue with Congress on important bills

President Arroyo is open to a "free and honest dialogue" with leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives to be able to speed up passage of important pieces of legislation, Malacañang said yesterday.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office will look into the suggestion of Sen. Edgardo Angara and Speaker Jose de Venecia for a talk between the President and congressional leaders as well as with other sectors on nation-building, economic growth and political stability.

"The President has been consistent in her actions to reach out to members of Congress on vital legislation for the people’s benefit," Bunye said.

"Her utmost concern is for political muckraking and plots against the government to cease and give way to collective action to advance economic progress and promote a stable political environment," he added.

Bunye noted the President has always been protecting the interests of the country and the people, "unlike some members of the opposition who wish to bring down the government at all cost."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo had taken initial steps to reach out to the senators after the conflict erupted between the executive branch and the Senate due to Executive Order 464.

"The President talks with the senators, although not as a group. Maybe Angara wants this to be seen by the public and in a broader sense," Ermita said.

Mrs. Arroyo accused the Senate and opposition congressmen of conducting incessant congressional investigations in aid of "destabilization" and issued EO 464 barring government, military and police officials from attending congressional inquiries without her prior consent.

Her action enraged the senators who said she was using her powers to stop them from uncovering the various anomalies of her administration and her alleged cheating in the 2004 elections.

The current rift is seen as one of the major obstacles in passing important bills into law.

Angara urged Senate President Franklin Drilon to respond positively to a dialogue in spite of their political differences.

De Venecia, meanwhile, said he would propose that Mrs. Arroyo convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss with Congress leaders which bills should be prioritized by lawmakers.

The LEDAC — which includes the President, key administration officials and lawmakers — was formed in the mid-1990s to enable Malacañang and Congress to map out a legislative agenda.