38_Chavez vs Gonzales and 51_Neri vs Senate Committee. Barras.docx

7/25/2019 38_Chavez vs Gonzales and 51_Neri vs Senate Committee. Barras.docx

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Neri vs Senate Committee

( EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE - Does it deprive the people to riht o! in!ormation on

matters o! p"#li$ $on$ern%&

FACTS OF THE CASE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

On September 26, 2007, petitioner Neri appeared before repondent Committee andtetified for !! "o#r on matter $on$ernin% t"e Nationa& 'roadband (ro)e$t *t"e +N'N

(ro)e$t+, a pro)e$t a-arded b. t"e /epartment of Tranportation and Comm#ni$ation

*+/OTC+ to "on% 1in% Te&e$omm#ni$ation E#ipment *+TE+3 (etitioner di$&oedt"at t"e CO4ELEC C"airman 'en)amin Aba&o offered "im (200 4i&&ion in e5$"an%e

for "i approa& of t"e N'N (ro)e$t3 He narrated t"at "e informed (reident &oria

Arro.o of t"e briber. attempt and t"at "e intr#$ted "im not to a$$ept t"e bribe3

Ho-eer, -"en probed f#rt"er on (reident Arro.o and petitioner8 di$#ion re&atin%to t"e N'N (ro)e$t, petitioner ref#ed to an-er, ino9in% +e5e$#tie prii&e%e3+3

(etitioner ref#ed to an-er #etion on: *a -"et"er or not (reident Arro.o fo&&o-ed

#p t"e N'N (ro)e$t, *b -"et"er or not "e dire$ted "im to prioritie it, and *$ -"et"er

or not "e dire$ted "im to approe it3Repondent Committee perited in 9no-in% petitioner8 an-er to t"ee t"ree

#etion b. re#irin% "im to appear and tetif. on$e more3 E5e$#tie Se$retar. Ed#ardoR3 Ermita -rote to repondent Committee and re#eted t"em to dipene -it"

petitioner8 tetimon. on t"e %ro#nd of e5e$#tie prii&e%e3

On Noember 20, 2007, petitioner did not appear before repondent Committee#pon order of t"e (reident ino9in% e5e$#tie prii&e%e3 On Noember 22, 2007, t"e

repondent Committee i#ed t"e "o-;$a#e &etter re#irin% "im to e5p&ain -". "e

"o#&d not be $ited in $ontempt3 On Noember 2


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prii&e%e in o#r &e%a& .tem

* -"et"er or not t"ere i fa$t#a& or &e%a& bai to "o&d t"at t"e $omm#ni$ation e&i$ited

b. t"e t"ree *> #etion are $oered b. e5e$#tie prii&e%e*> -"et"er or not t"e ino$ation of t"e e5e$#tie prii&e%e io&ate e$3 2? Art3 BB and e$3

7 Art3 BBB of t"e !


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>3 Bn t"e $ae at bar, t"e Co#rt, in #p"o&din% e5e$#tie prii&e%e -it" repe$t to t"ree

*> pe$ifi$ #etion, did not in an. -a. $#rb t"e p#b&i$8 ri%"t to information or

dimini" t"e importan$e of p#b&i$ a$$o#ntabi&it. and tranparen$.3

Bn C"ae 3 (C, it -a tated t"at t"ere are no pe$ifi$ &a- pre$ribin% t"e e5a$t

&imitation -it"in -"i$" t"e ri%"t *p#b&i$8 ri%"t to information ma. be e5er$ied or t"e$orre&atie tate d#t. ma. be ob&i%ed3 Nonet"e&e, it en#merated t"e re$o%nied

retri$tion to #$" ri%"t, amon% t"em: *' nationa& e$#rit. matter, * trade e$ret and

ban9in% trana$tion, *0 $rimina& matter, and *1 ot"er $onfidentia& information3Nationa& e$#rit. matter in$de tate e$ret re%ardin% mi&itar. and dip&omati$ matter,

a -e&& a information on inter;%oernment e5$"an%e prior to t"e $on$ion of treatie

and e5e$#tie a%reement3 It as !"rther held that even here there is no need to

prote$t s"$h state se$rets. the/ m"st #e 2e)amined in stri$t $on!iden$e and iven

s$r"p"lo"s prote$tion32

Bn$identa&&., t"e ri%"t primari&. ino&ed "ere i t"e ri%"t of repondent Committee to

obtain information a&&e%ed&. in aid of &e%i&ation, not t"e peop&e8 ri%"t to p#b&i$

information3 T"i i t"e reaon -". -e treed in t"e aai&ed /e$iion t"e ditin$tionbet-een t"ee t-o ri%"t3 A &aid do-n in Senate 3 Ermita, +t"e demand of a $itien for

t"e prod#$tion of do$#ment p#r#ant to "i ri%"t to information doe not "ae t"e ameob&i%ator. for$e a a #bpoena d#$e te$#m i#ed b. Con%re+ and +neit"er doe t"e

ri%"t to information %rant a $itien t"e po-er to e5a$t tetimon. from %oernment

offi$ia&3+ A pointed o#t, t"ee ri%"t be&on% to Con%re, not to t"e indiid#a& $itien3 Bti -ort" mentionin% at t"i )#n$t#re t"at t"e partie "ere are repondent Committee and

petitioner Neri and t"at t"ere -a no prior re#et for information on t"e part of an.

indiid#a& $itien3 T"i Co#rt -i&& not be -a.ed b. attempt to br t"e ditin$tion

bet-een t"e Le%i&at#reG ri%"t to information in a &e%itimate &e%i&atie in#ir. and t"ep#b&i$G ri%"t to information3

C45VE6 vs G7N65LES

(4ELL7 G5RCI SC5ND5L&

FACTS:

!3 T"e $ae ori%inate from eent t"at o$$#rred a .ear after t"e 200 nationa& and

&o$a& e&e$tion3 On 200, (re Se$retar. B%na$io '#n.e to&d reporter t"at t"e

oppoition -a p&annin% to detabi&ie t"e adminitration b. re&eain% a#diotape

of a mobi&e p"one $oneration a&&e%ed&. bet-een t"e (reident of t"e

("i&ippine, &oria 4a$apa%a& Arro.o, and a "i%";ran9in% offi$ia& of t"e

Commiion on E&e$tion *CO4ELEC -"i$" -a a#diotaped a&&e%ed&. t"ro#%"

-ire;tappin%3 Bn Malacaang pre briefin%, Se$retar. '#n.e prod#$ed t-o


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erion of t"e tape, one #ppoed&. t"e $omp&ete erion and t"e a&tered erion,

-"i$" #%%et t"at t"e (reident "ad intr#$ted t"e CO4ELEC offi$ia& to

manip#&ate t"e e&e$tion re#&t in t"e (reident8 faor3 Bt eem t"at Se$retar.

'#n.e admitted t"at t"e oi$e -a t"at of (reident Arro.o, b#t #be#ent&.

made a retra$tion3

23 Former $o#ne& of depoed (reident =oep" Etrada, Att.3 A&an (a%#ia re&eaed

an a&&e%ed a#t"enti$ tape re$ordin% of t"e -iretap -"i$" -ere p#rported

$oneration of t"e (reident, t"e Firt ent&eman =oe 4i%#e& Arro.o,

CO4ELEC Commiioner ar$i&&ano, and t"e &ate Senator 'arber3

>3 Repondent /epartment of =#ti$e */O= Se$retar. Ra#& ona&e -arned

reporter t"at t"oe -"o "ad $opie of t"e $ompa$t di$ *C/ and t"oebroad$atin% or p#b&i"in% it $ontent $o#&d be "e&d &iab&e #nder t"e Anti;

Wiretappin% A$t3 T"ee peron in$ded Se$retar. '#n.e and Att.3 (a%#ia3 He

a&o tated t"at peron poein% or airin% aid tape -ere $ommittin% a

$ontin#in% offene, #b)e$t to arret b. an.bod. -"o "ad perona& 9no-&ed%e if

t"e $rime -a $ommitted or -a bein% $ommitted in t"eir preen$e3

3 Se$retar. ona&e ordered t"e Nationa& '#rea# of Bneti%ation *N'B to %o

after media or%aniation found to have caused the spread, the playing and the

printing of the contents of a tapeI of an a&&e%ed -iretapped $oneration

ino&in% t"e (reident abo#t fi5in% ote in t"e 200 nationa& e&e$tion3

3 T"e NTC i#ed FABR WARNBN TO RA/BO AN/ TELEDBSBON

OWNERSO(ERATORS TO O'SERDE ANTB;WBRETA((BN LAW AN/

(ERTBNENT CBRC@LARS ON (RORA4 STAN/AR/S

arned that their #road$ast8airin o! s"$h !alse in!ormation

and8or ill!"l misrepresentation shall #e 9"st $a"se !or the

s"spension. revo$ation and8or $an$ellation o! the li$enses or

a"thori*ations iss"ed to the said $ompanies:;ill not hesitate. a!ter o#servin the re


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Pilipinas*J'( -"i$" re#&ted in t"e i#an$e of a =oint (re Statement -"i$" tated,

amon% ot"er, t"at t"e #ppoed -iretapped tape "o#&d be treated -it" enitiit. and

"and&ed reponib&.3

(etitioner C"ae fi&ed a petition pra.in% for t"e i#an$e of t"e -rit of

certiorari and pro"ibition, a e5traordinar. &e%a& remedie for t"e n#&&ifi$ation of a$t,

i#an$e, and order of repondent $ommitted t"at $#rtai& t"e p#b&i$8 ri%"t to freedom

of e5preion and of t"e pre, and to information on matter of p#b&i$ $on$ern

pe$ifi$a&&. in re&ation to information re%ardin% t"e $ontroeria& taped $onerion of

(reident Arro.o and for pro"ibition of t"e f#rt"er $ommiion of #$" a$t, and ma9in%

of #$" i#an$e, and order b. repondent3

RepondentK!6denied t"at t"e a$t tran%re t"e Contit#tion, and #etioned

petitioner8 &e%a& tandin% to fi&e t"e petition3

BSS@E:

WON the purported violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law will justify

straitjacketing the exercise of freedom of speech and of the press.

WON t"e mere pre tatement of repondent /O= Se$retar. and t"e NTC

$ontit#te a form of $ontent;baed prior retraint t"at "a tran%reed t"e Contit#tionM

WON t"e fair -arnin% made b. t"e repondent in a pre re&eae re#&ted to t"e

io&ation of t"e ri%"t of t"e peop&e tothe freedom of speech, of expression, or of thepress.

R@LBN:

'3 N7. On t"e bai of t"e re$ord of t"e $ae at bar, repondent -"o "ae t"e

b#rden to "o- t"at t"ee a$t do not abrid%e freedom of pee$" and of t"e pre fai&ed to

"#rd&e t"e $&ear and preent dan%er tet3 Bt appear t"at t"e reat evil-"i$" %oernment

-ant to preent i t"e airin% of a tape re$ordin% in a&&e%ed io&ation of t"e anti;

-iretappin% &a-3 T"e re$ord of t"e $ae at bar, "o-eer, are $onf#ed and $onf#in%, andrepondent8 eiden$e fa&& "ort of atif.in% t"e $&ear and preent dan%er tet3 =irstl/,

t"e ario# tatement of t"e (re Se$retar. obf#$ate t"e identit. of t"e oi$e in t"e

tape re$ordin%3 Se$ondl/, t"e inte%rit. of t"e taped $oneration i a&o #pe$t3 T"e

(re Se$retar. "o-ed to t"e p#b&i$ t-o erion, one #ppoed to be a $omp&eteI

erion and t"e ot"er, an a&teredI erion3 Thirdl/, t"e eiden$e of t"e repondent on
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn16http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn16


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t"e -"o8 and t"e "o-8 of t"e -iretappin% a$t i ambia&ent, epe$ia&&. $oniderin% t"e

tape8 different erion3 T"e identit. of t"e -ire;tapper, t"e manner of it $ommiion

and ot"er re&ated and re&eant proof are ome of t"e iniib&e of t"i $ae3 =o"rthl/,

%ien a&& t"ee #nett&ed fa$et of t"e tape, it i een ar%#ab&e -"et"er it airin% -o#&d

io&ate t"e anti;-iretappin% &a-3

3 it is not de$isive that the press statements made #/ respondents ere not

red"$ed in or !olloed "p ith !ormal orders or $ir$"lars3 It is s"!!i$ient that the

press statements ere made #/ respondents hile in the e)er$ise o! their o!!i$ial

!"n$tions3 @ndo#bted&., repondent ona&e made "i tatement a Se$retar. of

=#ti$e, -"i&e t"e NTC i#ed it tatement a t"e re%#&ator. bod. of media3 5n/ a$t

done. s"$h as a spee$h "ttered. !or and on #ehal! o! the overnment in an o!!i$ial

$apa$it/ is $overed #/ the r"le on prior restraint3 The $on$ept o! an ;a$t: does notlimit itsel! to a$ts alread/ $onverted to a !ormal order or o!!i$ial $ir$"lar3

7therise. the non !ormali*ation o! an a$t into an o!!i$ial order or $ir$"lar ill

res"lt in the eas/ $ir$"mvention o! the prohi#ition on prior restraint3 T"e pre

tatement at bar are a$t t"at "o#&d be tr#$9 do-n a t"e. $ontit#te impermiib&e

form of prior retraint on t"e ri%"t to free pee$" and pre3

T"ere i eno#%" eiden$e of $hillin e!!e$tof t"e $omp&ained a$t on re$ord3

T"e arnins%ien to media $ame !rom no lesst"e NTC, a re%#&ator. a%en$. t"at $an

$an$e& t"e Certifi$ate of A#t"orit. of t"e radio and broad$at media3 T"e. a&o $ame from

t"e Se$retar. of =#ti$e, t"e a&ter e%o of t"e E5e$#tie, -"o -ie&d t"e a-eome po-er to

proe$#te t"oe per$eied to be io&atin% t"e &a- of t"e &and3 5!ter the arnins. t"e

J'( ine5p&i$ab&. )oined t"e NTC in i#in% an ambia&ent =oint (re Statement3 After

t"e -arnin%, petitioner C"ae -a &eft a&one to fi%"t t"i batt&e for freedom of pee$"

and of t"e pre3 T"i i&en$e on t"e ide&ine on t"e part of ome media pra$titioner i

too deafenin% to be t"e #b)e$t of miinterpretation3

T"e $ontit#tiona& imperatie for # to tri9e do-n #n$ontit#tiona& a$t "o#&da&-a. be e5er$ied -it" $are and in &i%"t of t"e ditin$t fa$t of ea$" $ae3 For t"ere are

no "ard and fat r#&e -"en it $ome to &ipper. $ontit#tiona& #etion, and t"e &imit

and $ontr#$t of re&atie freedom are neer et in tone3 B#e reo&in% on t"eir

$ontr#$t m#t be de$ided on a $ae to $ae bai, a&-a. baed on t"e pe$#&iar "ape

and "ado- of ea$" $ae3 '#t in $ae -"ere t"e $"a&&en%ed a$t are patent inaion of


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a $ontit#tiona&&. prote$ted ri%"t, e sho"ld #e si!tin tri9in% t"em do-n a n#&&itie

per e3 5 #lo too soon str"$> !or !reedom is pre!erred than a #lo too late3

Documents

38_Chavez vs Gonzales and 51_Neri vs Senate Committee. Barras.docx