Provincial Legal Officer Richard Inojo said the order of Gov. Roel Degamo not to allow department heads or any employee of the provincial government to appear before the session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan without a clearance could be understood as a gag order because of bad experiences in the past.

Under the law, any public official or private person could be summoned to appear before a legislative body in aid of legislation, but Inojo claimed that the provincial government had realized that in several instances where employees are invited and grilled during regular sessions, he had not known of any legislation resulting from it.

He said he was himself a victim of such treatment in the SP. He also said there were instances when an employee is scolded and humiliated.

Inojo suggested that, if possible, SP members should reduce their questions to writing so replies can also be in writing, if the purpose is to elicit information, in aid of legislation.

On Monday, the officer-in-charge of the provincial jail who was supposed to appear during the SP session, did not come because of lack of clearance from the office of the governor.

Lately, doctors at the provincial hospital were summoned to shed light on health issues but were dissuaded after being scolded by a provincial board member at the hospital days before the regular session, Inojo added.*JG

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