Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Erwin Tulfo criticized Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Maria Cristina Roque for failing to attend a scheduled committee hearing on Thursday, February 19.

During a public hearing, Tulfo described Roque’s absence as “a form of disrespect” and demanded a proper explanation, as reported by RH Raymund Dadpaas on Rapido Hataw Balita.

He warned that if she fails to respond, she could be compelled to appear through a subpoena.

“The ComSec let me remind you again to please write secretary Roque of the DTI, I want to find out an answer why she has to make a decision for this committee. Alam ko po double taxation ang pinag-uusapan siya po sa trade and industry pero kasama po siya sa usapin,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo expressed frustration over Roque’s response that the DTI was not involved in the double taxation matter, saying it appeared she made the decision on behalf of the committee without consulting them.

He added, “Wala ba siyang karapatan na magdesisyon na hindi siya kasama sa hearing. Mukhang binabastos yata niya ang committee na ito,’yung iba nga nagpapadala kahit Assistant Secretary, Undersecretary.“

“She should send someone here kung hindi siya pwede, usec o asec niya para magpaliwanag dito. Hindi ‘yung sasabihin niya ‘We are not part of it.’ Sino ba siya? Tell her that. At bigyan niya tayo ng magandang paliwanag kung hindi mapupwersa akong mag-isyu ng subpoena at force her to attend here,” he noted.

The DTI and Roque were invited to the hearing to discuss a treaty between the Philippines and Cambodia, particularly the double taxation issue under the agreement.

The issue is significant for the Board of Investments (BOI) under DTI, which tracks Cambodian investments in the Philippines and Filipino investments in Cambodia.

According to officials from the Department of Finance (DOF), under a Double Taxation Agreement, investors pay taxes in the country where they earn income and not in their home country.