Defense chief to skip Petron oil spill inquiry
August 27th, 2006 by Site AdministratorDEFENSE Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. is expected to skip the joint Senate-House inquiry into the massive oil spill off Guimaras island on Monday, a move that could further anger senators.
Cruz, chair of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, wrote Senator Pia Cayetano last Friday informing her that he would be unable to attend the first hearing on Monday, citing provisions of Memorandum Circular (MC) 108.
The circular, issued by Malacanang on July 27, spells out new guidelines governing the appearance of officials from the executive department at congressional inquiries.Cayetano, co-chairperson of the Joint Oversight Committee on the Clean Water Act and chairperson of the Senate committee on environment, was miffed by Cruz’s decision, but voiced hopes he would change his mind and attend the hearing set for 12:30 p.m.“I’m extremely disappointed,” she said in an interview, “I’ll put the burden on them, and I’m going to tell the people who is responsible.”Cayetano, however, stopped short of saying what course of action she would take against Cruz if he failed to appear as he had indicated, saying “I’m still hopeful he will attend.”