The Rotary Balita no. 705 (September 25, 1952)

"Before I start any speculations, however, as to the motives behind my utterances and actuations, I want to make it clear that anything I do or say shall be absolutely free from any taint of political pressure or influence and I want to assure you that, personally, I am not a politician, never have been, nor expect to be one," said Secretary of Justice Oscar Castelo. He continued that during the past few weeks, there has been manifested a wanton tendency on the part of the two Houses of our legislative department and some of their committees to embark in a series of investigations. Those investigations, he said, are aimed at finding out the truth about certain reported anomalies in the government entities concerned and to deter- mine the person or persons responsible for the same. "Legally speaking, I do not deny the power of Congress or of its committees to conduct investigations of reported anomalies in the government," he declared, Castelo claimed that there are indications, however, that the investigations being conducted by the special committees of Congress are not entirely free from ulterior or selfish motives. He said that the of or justification for Congress or its committees to investigate is the necessary inquiring into facts and conditions to it in the exercise of its legislative notions. But these committees, he s have constituted themselves as int boards, exercising powers that do m gally belong to them, and usurping nations pertaining to another branch of S government. "Why is it that the Blue Ribbon Comittee or the Watch-Dog Committee or other investigating committees of Cop has so seen it fit not to conduct invest nations into the anomalies and irregularities committed or imputed to members of Congress themselves?" he asked. He said that one of the basic principles underlying the system of government have established under our Constitution i that of the separation of powers. This principle, he claimed, has been adopted necessarily to achieve efficiency but i dictated by the requirements of good government. In consonance with this principle the executive department should be considered supreme within itself. Thus, if an official of the executive department is re- ported to be committing irregularities and misdeeds in office, the matter is a direct concern of the executive department itself. He said that for Congress to inquire into the actuations of an executive official is no less than undue interference in the affairs of a coordinate branch of the government. Castelo pleaded for the recognition of the true extent, purpose and scope of its power of inquiry, and a consciousness of its own restrictions. "I firmly believe that it is only by giving each other its proper due that this harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislative departments of our goverment may not be disrupted." he said. Castelo called on the Manila Rotary Club and all Rotary Clubs throughout the Philippines to lead in the crusade to make the people understand the situation con- fronting our nation. He requested that each and every Rotarian be an apostle of democracy. Earlier, during the meeting, Odette damba gave a short talk on her experience abroad. Fara Lizardo contributed two songs a companied on the piano by Lulu Casas Leroy Young was the finemaster. BenLegarda who claimed to be a spiritual lative of Odette was fined P15.00. For st ting around Fara Lizardo's table, Gary Y pangco, Bill Saussotte, Doc Ayesa and Vince Bunuan were each fined P100 Fara's appearance in Lebran's "Song Sto. Tomas" cost Tony Anton P20.00. Je "cigarette-ad-model" Bautista whose picture had been appearing lately in the Piedmont ads was fined the sum the packers of Pied mont Cigarettes will give him. To make sure that Rotary gets it, Go Puan Seng was named a one-man committee to contact the Bataan Cigarette and get Joe's compensation if there is any. Charlie Hollmann was fined P10.00 while the recent speech of Y Shiong Shio against communism cost him P50.00.