THE Senate on Thursday filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the Supreme Court, asking it to void a directive issued by President Rodrigo Duterte barring Cabinet officials from attending Senate hearings regarding the supposedly anomalous purchase of pandemic medical supplies by the government from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Among the petitioners were Senate President Vicente Sotto III,Sa petition for certiorari and prohibition, kabilang sa mga petitioners ay sina Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senator Richard Gordon, who is the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The petitioners also asked the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or status quo ante order against the directive of President Duterte.
It can be recalled that the president issued a memorandum barring certain Cabinet officials such as Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III from attending Senate hearings and investigations, and instead focus on work related to COVID-19 pandemic response.
Included as respondents to the petition were Secretary Duque and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.