The Philippine presidential palace Saturday asked an opposition senator to be careful about his words after he orally abused the national security advisor of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made this reaction to Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who called National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales a "pimp" for seeking foreign funding for Arroyo's initiatives to change the Philippine Constitution.

"Well, whoever used that word should shut his mouth, especially when he is a legislator," Bunye said.

He reiterated that the Senate must release Gonzales in deference to separation of powers.

Gonzales has been detained by the Senate since Wednesday for contempt after he refused to divulge details of the contract he signed with American lobby firm Venable LLP to seek funds for the Arroyo government's initiative to carry out constitutional reform, also known as change the Charter.

But he was taken to the hospital later due to high blood pressure and low blood sugar.

Source: Xinhua