Panelo, binanatan ang Senado sa pagdaraos ng ‘question hour’, at hindi imbestigasyon ‘in aid of legislation’

BINANSAGAN ni Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo ang Senate hearings ukol sa di umano’y korapsyon sa pamahalaan sa gitna ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic bilang “question hour” at hindi true-blue investigation “in aid of legislation”.

Ginamit ni Panelo ang posisyon ng Korte Suprema na “takes judicial cognizance of the fact that the right of Congress to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation is susceptible to abuse”.

“For one, the inquiry itself might not properly be in aid of legislation and just be a veiled usurpation of judicial functions — similar to what is happening now,” ayon kay Panelo na ang tinutukoy ay ang Senate hearings.

Aniya, “SC had established in the Senate vs. Ermita case that a question hour under Section 22, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution is different from inquiries in aid of legislation under Section 21.”

“The former does not empower the Senate to resort to compulsory processes and compel the attendance of department heads belonging to the executive branch,” binigyang diin ni Panelo.

“What the Senate is performing now is, at most, its authority under Section 22 on question hour as we note that no new legislation is being contemplated by its members. Hence, it may not compel department heads to attend its hearings nor cite them in contempt if they refuse to participate,” paliwanag nito.

Sa “Talk to the People” public briefing na inere araw ng Martes ay ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa kanyang mga Cabinet officials– kanyang mga “alter egos” sa pamahalaan na kumuha muna ng permiso sa kanya bago pa dumalo sa Senate hearings kung saan sila inimbitahan.

“This was actually the ruling in Senate vs. Ermita where the Supreme Court upheld as valid the provisions in EO (Executive Order) 464 requiring department heads to secure the consent of the President prior to appearing before the Congress in relation to Section 22 on question hour,” ayon kay Panelo, tinukoy nito ang ginawang pagpapalabas ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Gayunman, sa palagay naman ni Panelo, ang “prior consent” rule ni Pangulong Duterte ay mananatili kahit pa baguhin ng Senado ang kanilang proceedings at gawin ang tamang imbestigasyon “in aid of legislation,” o para sa layunining makalikha ng batas.

“If, by any chance, the Senate is able to convert its hearings to one that is in aid of legislation, then the President’s directive still stands as invitations may be assessed on a case-to-case basis to determine if executive privilege may be invoked.” anito.

“In sum, it behooves Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) to keep itself in check in its ostensible conduct of official business, lest it transgress the limits prescribed by the Constitution,” konklusyon ni Panelo.

Samantala, inakusahan naman ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga senador na nagsasagaaw ang pagdinig ng naghahanap lamang ng atensyon a t media mileage dahil papalapit na ang halalan sa bansa. (Daris Jose)