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By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter
Malacañang will make it hard for
Undersecretary Remedios Poblador to attend the Senate’s “Hello,
Garci” probe, saying she is covered by an order barring executive
branch officials from appearing at congressional investigations.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
Sergio Apostol said on Tuesday that Poblador, an undersecretary of
the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, is covered by Executive
Order 464. And the Palace plans to invoke it if she is summoned.
This means Poblador will need
President Arroyo’s permission before she can attend the Senate
inquiry. Also under E.O.464, the Palace requires lawmakers to submit
questions beforehand.
Apostol said the Palace could
still yield to a Senate summons, but that decision has yet to be
made by President Arroyo, who will first look at the questions that
will be asked of Poblador.
He stressed that Malacañang is
not hiding anything or hiding Poblador, adding that he doesn’t
personally know Poblador. Apostol did say, though, that he believes
the Senate inquiry is in aid of legislation.
Earlier, Palace officials said
Poblador acted on her own when she supposedly helped former
intelligence agent Vidal Doble. Officials said Church officials had
asked Poblador’s help, since she is a relative of Archbishop
Gaudencio Rosales.
In a public hearing last week,
Doble claims that he backed off as a witness in the “Hello, Garci”
inquiry before because he felt pressured by Bishop Socrates Villegas
and by a certain “Medy,” who was linked to President Arroyo.
That woman was later confirmed to be Undersecretary Poblador.
The Senate blue-ribbon committee
will call Poblador to a hearing to shed light on Doble’s
testimony.
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