The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed all officials and employees of the Executive Department to no longer appear before or attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the 2020 Commission on Audit Report effective immediately.

This is contained in the memorandum from the Executive Secretary signed on October 4, 2021.

This latest Presidential directive is based on the premise that the principle of separation of powers requires mutual respect among the different branches of government and in view of Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution on the protection and promotion by the State of the right to health of the people.

The Philippines is currently in the State of Calamity in the account of COVID-19. Having said this, officials and employees should focus all their time and effort in addressing the challenges of the pandemic by performing their functions with utmost responsibility, integrity and efficiency.