Senate directs filing of SC petition asserting power in legislative probes

The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution authorizing and directing the filing of an appropriate Supreme Court petition to assert the power of the Senate in legislative inquiries.

Senators passed Senate Resolution No. 946, which seeks to authorize and direct the filing of the appropriate petition before the Supreme Court asserting the power of the upper chamber in inquiries in aid of legislation as provided under the 1987 Constitution.

The Senate will file the petition in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s memorandum order barring Cabinet and executive officials from attending the ongoing investigation into government pandemic-related purchases.

In filing the resolution, Senate President Vicente Sotto III cited Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution which states that “the Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure.”

“It is the inherent right and solemn duty of the Senate to preserve, uphold and protect its committees’ constitutional mandate to conduct inquiries, in aid of legislation, including the power to issue compulsory processes,” the resolution further read.

Sotto added that the chamber also has the right to seek “judicial relief and affirmation of its rights and prerogatives under the Constitution if and when challenged or interfered with by any branch, department, agency, or instrumentality of the government or by any individual.”

Earlier, Duterte said he would welcome any move by the Senate to question the legality of his memorandum before the Supreme Court.

JPV, je