Cabinet backs Senate testimonies of officials, defends executive privilege

President Gloria Arroyo's official family on Friday lauded the Senate testimonies of its officials who had been invited to the inquiry on the controversial National Broadband Network project,saying their answers were based on parameters set by Supreme Court.

In a statement by Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo, he said, "The Cabinet commends Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Chairman Romulo Neri, and other officials for explaining the national broadband network project to our people."

"We also acknowledge the information and comments given by our senators and other parties, which the China Projects Oversight Panel shall take into consideration," Saludo said.

He added that these and future exchanges of information between co-equal branches of government must abide by parameters set down by the Supreme Court for congressional hearings, including those requiring invitations to state what legislation and questions would be taken up, as well as those governing executive privilege.

He likewise explained that, "Executive privilege covers discussions of the President and the Cabinet, closed-door sessions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and deliberations of the Supreme Court."

"It is intended to ensure full, free and frank exchange of views in the shaping of decisions, policies, and actions affecting the nation, which would suffer if presidential, congressional, and high court deliberations were not confidential," he declared.

"Put simply, if privileged discussions could be made public, top officials would not openly share sensitive views and knowledge, which are indispensable in crafting sound decisions in the public interest," he said.

He warned that the same "cloak of silence" would fall upon media sources if confidentiality of their identities and interviews were not respected.

The official pointed out that The Senate acknowledged the privileged nature of Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc’s interview with Neri when he was allowed to ask the latter if he could reveal confidential portions of their interview.

When permission was not granted, the Senate did not hold Bondoc in contempt for refusing to violate the interviewee's confidence, Saludo said.

"Similar respect should be accorded to the confidentiality of deliberations in the highest organs of government, as affirmed by high court rulings," he said.

He concluded, "Executive privilege covering the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court is a cornerstone of our democracy as well as the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution."