GMA relieved over OWWA probe suspension

President Arroyo and Malacañang officials expressed relief yesterday over the decision of the Senate to suspend the investigation into the evacuation efforts of the government in Lebanon.

The Palace also said future attendance of officials from the executive department at legislative inquiries will still have to follow certain conditions.

Mrs. Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in separate statements thanked and lauded the senators for their statesmanship and consideration that the evacuation of the overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon must go unhampered.

"The senators heed well the voice of the people in suspending the investigation of the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) funds, which after all has been certified by the COA (Commission on Audit) as intact and readily available," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Mrs. Arroyo was in Dagupan City for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the P903-million Pantal Bridge project when she issued her statement.

She said that the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in war-torn Lebanon "deserve our undivided attention until they are all rescued."

The Senate committee on labor has decided to suspend its inquiry into the evacuation efforts of the government in Lebanon until the conflict in the country has ended.

The COA stated that the OWWA’s P7.1-billion fund was intact and Malacañang said it should give the Senate all the more reason to suspend its inquiry and instead help in evacuating Filipinos from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, she said other national priorities have to be seen to, like more aggressive promotion of agribusiness and commerce and better infrastructure projects.

"Our reforms are taking root. Our growth is irreversible," the President said as she appealed to the people to support her programs as her administration is geared towards development.

"I think that is a very statesmanlike decision, so that the operation can go on smoothly," Ermita said. "I hope there are other important things that our good senators can attend to in the Senate, especially legislation and not spend too much time (investigating)."

In a related development, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, who heads Team Syria which is overseeing the evacuation of OFWs to the Philippines, has belied reports that two Filipina evacuees were raped at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) relocation center in Damascus while awaiting repatriation. — Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Eva Visperas, Pia Lee-Brago, Sandy Araneta, Jose Rodel Clapano