Press Release
February 10, 2009

WASHINGTON TO DECIDE WB REPORT RELEASE

World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman said that he has forwarded to the World Bank main office in Washington D.C. the letter from the Senate protesting and requesting reconsideration of his refusal to give a copy of the World Bank documents on the collusion scandal that implicates the First Gentleman and others.

This was contained in the letter dated February 9 sent by Hofman to Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chair of the economic affairs committee, in reply to Santiago 's letter of 6 February 2009.

"Your letter raises important considerations of national and international law with respect to availability of information in the context of the World Bank recent debarment of international and domestic firms on grounds of collusion," Hofman said.

Hofman said he forwarded Santiago 's letter to the Washington D.C. legal department, apparently to study the points of international law raised by Santiago , who was Philippine nominee to the International Court of Justice.

In his latest letter, Hofman promised Santiago that he will provide the Senate with a copy of the Redacted Report, which is being finalized by the World Bank Integrity Vice-Presidency, and will then be reviewed by the Philippine government.

The reviewing officer will apparently be executive director to the Philippines Jorge Humberto Botero.

Santiago told media that there are apparently four WB documents: Referral Report November 2007; Notice of sanctions proceedings May 2008; Decision of Sanctions Board 12 January 2009; and Redacted (Edited) Report, to be posted in the WB website.

"I strongly suggest that any person commenting on the World Bank scandal should specify which of these four WB documents he is referring to. This would avoid confusion in the public mind," Santiago said.

In her prior letter to Hofman, Santiago cited the following points of international law to support the Senate request for a copy of the World Bank documents:

  • International law is evolving away from the concept of absolute immunity.

  • There is no Headquarters Agreement between the World Bank and the Philippine Government.

  • In the landmark case of Liang vs. People, 355 SCRA 125 (2001), the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that international organizations, but not its officials, enjoy absolute immunity.

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