ALUMNI from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University condemned President Rodrigo Duterte for causing a “constitutional crisis” by stopping officials from testifying in a Senate probe of suspected irregularities in the use of pandemic response funds.

UP alumni led by retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, opposed the president’s “obviously unlawful” decision to ignore Senate blue ribbon committee summonses.

“President Duterte’s directive has created an unnecessary constitutional crisis in the middle of a pandemic that has wrought havoc on the lives of Filipinos,” the group said.

“The President must respect the constitutional exercise of power by a coequal branch of government,” it added.

The Ateneo alumni agreed, saying that Duterte should allow Cabinet members to “perform their constitutional oversight function” in the Pharmally investigation.

The health secretary’s older brother, Cesar Duque, was one of the signatories of the statement.

“If the president has nothing to hide, there is no reason for him to stop the investigation,” the group said.

Earlier, Duterte said he will release a memorandum barring his Cabinet members from attending Senate hearings.