Character is destiny, as the old saying goes. This is certainly true of soon to be ex-Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York.

Gov. Spitzer, whose meteoric rise in U.S. politics (there were even talks of his being the first Jewish President someday), was based on prosecuting white-collar crime and fraud in Wall Street, was brought down by his long-term involvement with a high-class call girl ring. He was a valued client, as it turns out, and spent an estimated U.S. $ 80,000.00 on the services of high-end prostitutes over a recent period. About the best thing that could be said about the whole sordid affair is he apparently did not use public funds to satisfy his habit, being independently wealthy and heir to a Manhattan real estate fortune.

Ironically, he officially took a hard stance (pun intended) on prostitution, having sought the enactment of what is reportedly the toughest and most comprehensive anti-sex-trade law in the nation. His novel approach: Go after the men who seek out prostitutes and punish them instead of the other way around. Well, I guess he got a taste of his own medicine.

His resignation came less than 48 hours after it emerged that he had been intercepted on a federal wiretap confirming plans to meet a call girl from a high-priced prostitution service, the cheesily-named Emperor’s Club VIP. He subsequently had a tryst with Kristen, an expensive and apparently happy hooker on Feb. 13 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. He reportedly spent $4,300 for a few hours with her. The resulting outcry forced him to make a public and humiliating admission of his transgressions, with his stricken wife by his side, and put an end to a promising political career, possibly forever. Read the rest of this entry »

Section 28, Article II of the Philippine Constitution on the Declaration of Principles and State policies provides that

Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.”

Section 7, Article III of the Constitution on the Bill of Rights, provides that

The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”

Section 22, Article VI of the Constitution provides:

The heads of departments may, upon their own initiative, with the consent of the President, or upon the request of either House, as the rules of each House shall provide, appear before and be heard by such House on any matter pertaining to their departments. Written questions shall be submitted to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least three days before their scheduled appearance. Interpellations shall not be limited to written questions, but may cover matters related thereto. When the security of the State or the public interest so requires and the President so states in writing, the appearance shall be conducted in executive session.”

Thus, full public disclosure and the right to information may be subject to lawful limitations. This is the basis for the doctrine of executive privilege, a phrase not expressly mentioned in the Constitution.

Although E.O. 464 has been set aside by President Arroyo, the Executive Branch can still invoke executive privilege, but the good folks from Malacanang will now have to at least show up and explain why. Executive privilege is precisely that, a privilege. There has to be some justification why one should be accorded the prerogative. Cabinet officials cannot just hide behind the skirts of executive privilege forever. Read the rest of this entry »

Hillary Clinton had chance to regroup after a string of defeats and take decisive victories in Ohio and Texas, where it counted most. She also won in Rhode Island while Obama took Vermont.

Hillary’s dogged, workmanlike and feisty campaign held back the vaunted Obama charisma, grassroots network and funding advantage, proving once again that Clinton has clout in the big states. Capitalizing on record turnouts, the Clinton campaign was able to draw support from recognized pro-Hillary blocs , namely women, white, blue-collar and older voters and Hispanics is Texas.

The Democrat slugfest remains close, however, as the endgame nears. On the G.O.P. side, John McCain wrapped up the party nomination as Mike Huckabee conceded defeat and endorsed his rival for the presidency. Read the rest of this entry »