What happened to EO 464

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

Whatever happened to Executive Order Number 464? Remember it? This was the ominous dictum from the President forbidding any of the members of her cabinet or ranking officials to comply with the summons of Congress if they are to be made to answer questions about governance or other matters that Malacañang may not want divulged.

There was a big hue and cry over the Executive Order when it was issued apparently to silence a military general and his fellow official from telling Congress what they know about the alleged tampering with the ballot in Mindanao. The two had also disclosed that they were privy to the use and distributions of huge amounts of money in the Mindanao area, and who were the persons responsible for it.

The two military officers had already spilled the beans, in a manner of speaking, and had done so although the offensive EO had already been issued then. Now the general is being charged, and it is very likely that he may not get the benefits earned by his long years in military service. From the time EO 464 was issued, several investigations have been aborted because of the fear of witnesses that they, too, may be punished for telling the truth.

The EO has been brought to the Supreme Court which is being asked to rule on whether its issuance is legal and not an abridgement of the freedom of speech that our Bill of Rights has assured us. So far, however, the high court has not announced any action taken on it, leading some officials to follow up its status.

The existence of EO 464 is viewed by many as the start of the erosion of the rights and freedoms we believe our Constitution entitles us to. The Supreme Court should, therefore, not allow more time to pass before it acts on it. Otherwise the people will lose hope and believe that this is again another mockery, not only of our rights, but also of our democratic processes.*