President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City. Presidential Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte instructed officials of the executive branch to secure clearance from him before attending Senate probe on alleged DOH overpriced pandemic purchases.

Duterte said Senate prolong inquiry of some resource persons for up to 7 hours, while others just wait on standby without giving their testimony would be “good for election”

“Ganito ang proposal ko (this is my proposal), I will require that the Cabinet members invited to your hearings, that he will clear the invitation with me,” Duterte said in his talk to the people program aired Tuesday.

“If I think that he will be called for walang silbi except to harass, to be berated in front of the republic, hintuin ko na ‘yan at pagbawalan ko na,” he added.

Apparently addressing senators, Duterte said, “May option kayo, you can cite the person in contempt. Pero ako na magsabi na ako ang may utos na hindi mag-attend.”

“I think I can do it as President really there is an abuse of authority there or exceeding the authority of the reasonable time that Congress conducts a hearing. I will limit you to what you can do to with the executive department of the government,” he said.

He later told Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, “The next time he is invited, he should clear the invitation to appear dito sa akin (here with me) and I will decide.”

“Nasabi na ni Secretary Duque ‘yong kaya niyang—ano pa ba ang gusto nila? Pati ‘yong kaluluwa n’yo hatakin?” the President continued.

The Legislative branch, which has separate powers from the Executive Branch, is “authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them through the power vested in the Philippine Congress.”

Probes in the Senate or House of Representatives are done in aid of legislation.