Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez said Saturday there is no need for President Arroyo to present the 43 health workers before the Court of Appeals (CA) since she has always been compliant with court orders.

In an interview over government- run DzRB, Gonzalez made the statement following the reported defiance made by the military and police during the recent habeas corpus hearing in the appellate court. They failed to present the health workers who were arrested on Feb. 6 on suspicion that they are communist rebels.

“If there is a court order, not even the president can prevent that. I’m sure the Armed Forces will comply with that,” Gonzalez said.

“There is invocation of presidential order. Before, the Armed Forces cannot even respond to congressional investigation without the approval of the President. I think that does not comply anymore because the President always complies with court orders,” he said.

The military attributed the no show of the 43 detainees before the hearing to the “high-risk” security concerns, saying that it takes time to arrange security for them.

Malacañang assured that the police and military will be “very conscious” in handling the case of medical workers who were arrested for being purportedly mistaken as rebels. (Charissa M. Luci)