I expect the Senate, through our legal counsel, to immediately take due notice and respond to the court order, to assert and uphold the exercise of the investigating committee’s contempt power. Such action taken by the Senate is not only in order but is necessary to ensure the integrity and credibility of legislative inquiries and to safeguard the public interest.
The exercise of this authority is well within the Senate’s constitutional mandate, as it ensures the integrity of its proceedings and protects the public interest.
Hindi ito ang unang beses na nagpakulong ang Senado ng mga na-cite in contempt ng Blue Ribbon Committee, and to name a few: former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, and Linconn Ong in the Pharmally case. May pagkakataon pa na kinatigan ng Supreme Court ang pagpapakulong ng Senado sa isang testigo sa New Bilibid Prisons. This is the case of Jean Arnault in the 1950s, where the SC affirmed the Senate’s inherent power of legislative inquiry and its authority to punish for contempt.
Kumpiyansa ako na walang pagmamalabis na ginawa ang Senado at naaayon ito sa aming constitutional mandate at jurisdiction, partikular sa pagpapataw ng kaukulang parusa sa mga nagsisinungaling na resource persons.