PIMENTEL LAUDS SUPREME COURT RULING ON EO 464

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today hailed the ruling of the Supreme Court nullifying Executive Order 464.

I am very glad about the decision on EO 464. With this decision government officials and employees cannot be prevented by Malacañang from appearing before the Senate and the House of Representatives for investigation, he said.

He said the Supreme Court should be commended for asserting its independence by upholding the authority of Congress to investigate the actuations of officials of the executive branch in accordance with the principle of checks and balance enshrined in the Constitution.

The Supreme Court ruling upholds the rule of law and it reminds Gloria that her capricious wishes are not the law under a democratic government, Pimentel said.

Pimentel acknowledged in the High Courts ruling its specification of certain matters that may not be pried into by Congress to protect national interest and security. He said the minority bloc in the Senate will look thoroughly into these exemptions.

Pimentel also said he welcomes the plan of Solicitor General Antonio Nachura to file a motion for reconsideration of the high courts decision on the case. But we will oppose that motion. As petitioners in the case, we will fight any motion to seek a reversal of the Supreme Court decision on the case.