Senate orders PRC to explain snub of nursing probe

Citation contempt threatened

By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Last updated 07:16pm (Mla time) 08/30/2006

THE Senate will order officials of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to explain their continued snub of the Senate investigation into the leakage of questions for the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations and threatened to cite them with contempt.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the committee on civil service, which is investigating the nursing leak, was preparing to issue the order Wednesday after the PRC officials failed to attend the hearing earlier in the day, their third time to do so.

Senator Franklin Drilon said Biazon would be issuing “a show cause order similar to the procedure adopted in the regular courts, where those who are subpoenaed are given an opportunity to explain why they have refused to heed the subpoena.”

But he explained that showing up or submitting an explanation did not automatically absolve the PRC officials either.

“The committee would have to decide once the explanation is submitted whether or not the explanation is acceptable. If it is not acceptable, then the committee is free to decide how to proceed,” Drilon said.

“They should be cited for contempt, especially one that must be extracted like a bad tooth,” Senator Richard Gordon said, referring to PRC chairperson Leonor Tripon-Rosero, who also happens to be the dentist of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The PRC officials invoked Memorandum Circular and told the Senate committee on civil service chaired by Senator Rodolfo Biazon that they would need advance copies of the questions they would be asked before they could attend.

The Palace memorandum essentially reiterates the provisions of Executive Order (EO) 464, which prevents government officials and employees from appearing before congressional inquiries without Presidential clearance, but which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional.

Although Senate President Manuel Villar said they “do not agree with (the national government’s) interpretation” of the Supreme Court decision on EO 464, “we are giving them the chance to explain.”

He said the Senate caucus agreed to allow the PRC officials due process. “We don't want them to say that the Senate is gearing for a fight,” Villar said.

However, he added: “This is a warning signal that if they don't come, we assure them that we will exercise our constitutional duties.”