Robin Padilla fumes over absent executive execs in Cha-cha hearing

MANILA, Philippines — As the Senate resumed its Charter change hearing Friday, some invited officials from the executive branch failed to attend the discussion, irking Senator Robin Padilla.

“Maglalabas lang ako ng kaunting sama ng loob sa mga nagaganap sapagkat hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hirap na hirap ang Senado na mag-imbita ng ibang secretary,” lamented Padilla, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes.

(I would just like to voice my displeasure with what’s going on because I cannot understand why the Senate has difficulty in inviting other secretaries.)

“Kapag iniimbita sana itong taga-executive, sana pinagbibigyan niyo kami sapagkat hindi naman po kami dito mga marites o parites,” he went on.

(When we invite those from the executive branch, I hope you accept it because we are not gossipers here.)

The senator also floated the idea of having a parliamentary government, where he said the attendance of officials in hearings is required.

“Kasi kung ganito ang sistema na para tayong nagmamakaawa dito sa executive para makasama lang natin sana mag-parliamentary na lang tayo. Dahil sa parliamentary obligado silang humarap,” the neophyte senator said.

(If the system is like this where we have to beg the executive to participate, then let us have a parliamentary government so they will be obliged to face us.)

Padilla noted that senators from both the majority and minority blocs were in the discussion. As such, he said, executive branch officials should also attend the hearing.

“Akala ko kaalyado natin itong nasa executive. Kung kaalyado namin talaga kayo siputin nyo kami,” he said.

(I thought those from the executive branch were our allies. If you are our allies, attend the hearings.)

The Department of Energy (DOE) has informed Padilla through a letter that Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla cannot attend the hearing.

The DOE likewise asked that it be permitted to submit “written comments at a later date after due internal study.”

Meanwhile, the secretaries of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Finance were also absent but sent their representatives to attend the hearing.

/MUF/abc