Malaluan added, “More often, the oversight character of an inquiry is inextricable from a legislative purpose… It is by being factually informed of the actual workings or administration of existing laws, or of the ways by which wrongdoing such as corruption is committed, that intelligent legislation may be had, whether through the amendment of existing laws or the enactment of new ones.”

Call to inhibit

Protesters also called on Justices Arturo Brion, Renato Corona and Presbitero Velasco Jr. to inhibit themselves from sitting on this case in order to remove any doubt of partiality towards certain personalities and interests, such as petitioner Neri and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.’

Brion was the former labor secretary and was appointed by Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at a time when the debate between the Senate and Malacañang on the executive privilege is raging. Corona was Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff when the latter was still vice president. His wife is also a presidential appointee to the Camp John Hay Corp., a government corporation. Velasco, meanwhile, has been reported to have played golf with Neri.

Continuing vigilance

Signatories to the open letter continue to gather signatures, which they will submit to the High Court before the next deliberation on the Neri decision. It has been posted at the www.petitiononline.com/toSC/petition.html.

On April 15, the SC gave Neri, through his counsel, the Solicitor General, ten days to comment.

Bayan Chair Dr. Carol Araullo said, “This is a very positive and welcome development. The SC majority that decided the Neri petition could have dismissed the motion for reconsideration outright but the concerned justices did not do so. There is hope. But we have to maintain vigilance and let the justices know the public sentiment.” (Bulatlat.com)

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