THE Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by three lawyers seeking to compel the Senate Blue-Ribbon committee (SBRC) to release to the public its draft partial committee report on the multi-billion anomalous flood control projects.
The decision junking the petition for mandamus and certiorari filed by lawyers Eldrige Marvin Aceron, Sikini Labastilla and Purificacion Bartolome-Bernabe was reached during yesterday’s regular en banc session of the Court.
The petitioners sought the release of the draft partial committee report after it was leaked to several media outlets in February this year.
They argued that the ‘deliberative process privilege’ can no longer be invoked after then SBRC chairman, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, disclosed the report’s contents to the public in numerous occasions.
The alleged leaked draft reportedly recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges, including plunder, against several senators and other public officials in connection with the flood control scandal.
The petitioners pointed out that the public has the right to information under Article III, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution.