Senate may grant conditional release to Gonzales

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales may get a conditional release after Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Joker Arroyo ruled that the Senate cannot "disregard" humanitarian considerations.

"We cannot disregard humanitarian reasons. Conditional release and other options may be considered. The recommendation (of the Senate doctors), we will consider it very seriously," Arroyo said in an interview late yesterday afternoon.

Arroyo gave the statement after the Senate medical staff reported yesterday that Gonzales "still requires continued medical attention" due to his coronary artery heart disease.

But Gonzales announced Sunday that he might forgo bypass surgery, as recommended by doctors at the Philippine Heart Center, "because of the call of the times," according to a press statement issued yesterday by the Partido Demoktratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, which he heads.

"I have been thinking deeply about what is happening to our country. If I undergo an operation now, I may lose the opportunity to serve where I am most needed," the PDSP quoted Gonzales as saying.

Gonzales told his supporters that the conflict between the Executive branch and the Senate was inevitable, considering the bitter political climate.

"As you all have seen, there is a call for a system change and that we have to do now," Gonzales said.

On orders of the Senate president and the members of the Blue Ribbon last Monday, the Senate’s medical staff visited Gonzales yesterday to determine his health condition.

In their report to Drilon, the head of the medical staff, Dr. Mariano Blancia Jr., corroborated the findings of Dr. Jose Yulde, one of Gonzales’ doctors, who had said Gonzales was suffering from coronary heart disease, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, diabetes Mellitus type 2, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Gonzales has discussed with the Senate medical staff his intention to seek additional opinions on his health condition both here and abroad.

"We conclude that Secretary Gonzales still requires continued medical attention," the report read.

A member of Arroyo’s committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the panel had prepared a resolution that would grant Gonzales conditional release.

Sen. Edgardo Angara agreed that Gonzales should be given humanitarian consideration because of his health condition. "He’s very sick. But (his release from custody or not) must be a committee decision," Angara said.

Sen. Ralph Recto said Gonzales should "go on a furlough, not because he is a bad liar, but because he has a bad heart."

"The Senate has made its point: for perjurers, the only way out of the Senate building is through a prison cell. But I advise the President against taking him back as national security adviser. Yes, he needs a rest, but above all the President needs a rest from him," Recto said.

Gonzales has been detained at the Philippine Heart Center since Sept. 21 after the Senate cited him for contempt for refusing to answer lawmakers’ questions on the government’s now-rescinded contract with American lobby firm Venable LLP.

He suffered hypertension during the grilling and was taken to the hospital after the inquiry.

Doctors there later said that Gonzales should undergo heart bypass surgery due to a blocked major blood vessel.

Gonzales was ordered detained by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for refusing to publicly identify the private donors who paid for the Venable contract.

He told the panel that he got presidential approval to sign the contract on behalf of the government but failed to clearly answer whether he received direct authority.

Senators wanted to find out who authorized Gonzales to sign the contract, which senators said was inimical to the Philippines’ national interest because it appeared to allow a foreign government to meddle in its affairs.

The Venable contract called for the American lobby firm to help Manila secure US official and private funding for a number of projects, including Mrs. Arroyo’s initiative to amend the Constitution.

Malacañang had asked the Senate to release Gonzales, arguing that he enjoys executive privilege and therefore excused from answering legislators’ questions, especially those that could compromise national security.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier accused opposition lawmakers of abusing their congressional oversight powers to undermine her administration through a series of investigations purportedly to uncover corruption.

The impasse deepened when she issued Executive Order 464 that barred government officials and military and police officers from appearing before congressional inquiries without prior Palace clearance.

Lawmakers slammed the order, saying it infringed on Congress’ oversight powers.