Confrontation.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

THE LATE Indonesian strongman Achmed Sukarno coined a phrase to describe his hostile policy against Malaysia: he called it konfrontasi. At certain points, because of the Philippine claim to Sabah, the Philippines joined in the konfrontasi of Indonesia. This word should be familiar to President Macapagal-Arroyo from her fathers time.

The administration has mounted a frontal assault on the Senate. In reality, it is directed not just against the upper house but against Congress as a whole. An excitable congressman compared Executive Order No. 464 to a declaration of war. In many ways, it is. Malacanang uses the Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, the Revised Penal Code and the Administrative Code, in what it proclaims to be a presidential issuance to ensure observance of the principle of the separation of powers, adherence to the rule of executive privilege, and respect for the rights of public officials appearing in legislative inquiries, and so on and so forth.

The order is patently not intended to achieve what it claims to be its objectives; it is intended to shield the President and her people from uncomfortable questions and investigations, period. The Constitution and the laws are merely being invoked to prevent Congress and the public from putting the executive department on the spot. In other words, the executive order is an attempt to shield the administration from accountability to Congress and the public.

The Presidents order invokes Art. VI, Sec. 22 of the Constitution, which states: The heads of departments may upon their own initiative, with the consent of the President, or upon the request of either Houseappear before and be heard by such House on any matter pertaining to their departments. This provision was meant to institutionalize the parliamentary practice of the question hour in Congressa practice that was attempted by Congress once or twice, most notably when then Executive Secretary Joker Arroyo faced questions from the lower house. This valuable practice was discontinued under administrations subsequent to Corazon Aquinos. ...