By Fel V. Maragay

THREE Cabinet officials will testify at the Senate inquiry on World Bank-funded infrastructure projects but the President?s husband has been advised by his doctors not to show up.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya had asked Mrs. Arroyo?s permission to attend the hearing.

?They themselves volunteered to attend the hearing. We will not prevent them from appearing. They are confident they can handle themselves and the questions,? Ermita said.

But the President?s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, was advised by his doctors to skip the Senate inquiry, lawyer Ruy Rondain said.

?They said it might be too risky for him. I will present his three-page statement and his doctors will also go to the Senate to explain [his] health condition,? Rondain said.

He said Mr. Arroyo?s statement denieD involvement in any World Bank-funded projects.

The Senate summoned Mr. Arroyo after his name was allegedly mentioned in the World Bank report on a government road project funded by the agency.

The World Bank suspended the project after allegedly finding out that at least three local contractors had colluded to corner Stage 1 of the National Roads Improvement and Management Program.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday urged the committee on economic affairs to subpoena World Bank country director Bert Hofman to its hearing.

Enrile also advised Mr. Arroyo to accept the Senate?s invitation for him to testify at the committee hearing on the road project scandal.

?If he is physically able to come, it would be better if he would come. I would assure [him] that he would be given due courtesy by the Senate,? Enrile said.

Senator Francis Escudero said the Senate?s in-house doctors should be allowed to check on Mr. Arroyo?s health to see if he was really not fit to testify.

Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson said two witnesses who appeared before the World Bank?s investigating panel had linked Mr. Arroyo to the road project.

Enrile said he saw no reason for Hofman to stay away from the Senate investigation, since the World Bank was actually owned by various countries including the Philippines, which contributed funds for its creation.

He said he was not aware if the World Bank?s charter granted immunity to its officials from being summoned to congressional probes in countries where it operates.

?There is no harm in inviting or summoning them,? Enrile said.

Enrile?s call to summon Hofman came after the World Bank official assured Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago that he would furnish her committee with an edited version of its report on the road project. With Joyce Pangco Pa?ares