Expanded, not rescinded

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Managing Editor ANTONIETA B. LOPEZ Business Editor ODETTE MONTELIBANO Desk Editor MARY ANN BARCELONA Advertising Coordinator RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete

ANDRES R. LEONARDIA Managing Director

Some officials, especially from the opposition, may have been over-reacting, but most Filipinos believe they have reason to be alarmed at the recent move of Malacañang to expand the coverage of the already onerous Executive Order No. 464, that is perceived to be a violation of the people's right to free expression. Remember E.O. 464? It was hastily issued by the Palace when a military general and a colonel were about to testify before the Senate Committee on what they know about the alleged anomalous events preceding the May 2004 election in Mindanao.

Because they ignored, or, as later claimed by their defenders, they did not receive their copies of the Order on time, the two are facing charges for allegedly disregarding the orders of their Commander-in-Chief, who happens to be the president herself. What is E.O. 464 about? Simply stated, it prohibits government officials from responding to summons by investigating committees of Congress and revealing what they know about the subject being probed. The issuance of that order so appalled the people that it didn't take long before it was brought to the Supreme Court for resolution of its legality and constitutionality.

To date, however, the High Court has not yet issued a pronouncement on it, a delay that has made questioners pessimistic as to its outcome.

The other day, citizens of the Republic of the Philippines were aghast to learn that Malacañang had stretched farther the coverage of the order it had unilaterally issued. This time, the E.O. will cover officials who may be called to testify, or even just shed light on matters involving the national budget for this year, and even in the hearings to be held by the Commission on Appointments on the new personalities named by the President to the various departments to fill up positions, among which are those deserted by her own disenchanted people at the height of the "Hello Garci" controversy last year.

An exasperated - or perhaps benumbed - official has called the development a sign of "a creeping one-man (woman?) rule". Many will agree with him this time.*