Palace ‘executive decision’ kept Cabinet execs from Miriam’s hearing–Paje

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—It was a Malacañang “executive decision” that kept Cabinet members from Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s inquiry into matters involving resigned Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno late last week, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje told reporters at the Senate on Tuesday.

Paje said he was adjusting his schedule to attend the hearing by Santiago’s committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws when a decision was made by Malacañang to first first ask what questions would be asked of members of President Aquino’s Cabinet before they attended the hearing.

Asked what he thought about a threat made by Santiago that she would veto the appointment of Cabinet members who failed to show up at that hearing when their appointments come up for ratification by the congressional Commission on Appointments, Paje replied: “It is unfortunate but we have to abide by the decision of the [Commission on Appointments].  We didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I was trying very hard to schedule my appointments at that time but somehow there was an executive decision to make a query first on the subject, that’s why the rest is history,” he added.