Walang balak si Senate majority floor leader Francis Pangilinan na bawiin ang naunang panawagang mag-inhibit sa petisyon ni Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Romulo Neri ang tatlong mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.

Ayon kay Pangilinan, mismong sina Supreme Court (SC) chief Justice Reynato Puno at dating chief Justice Artemio Pa­nganiban ang kumalampag sa liderato ng Korte Suprema kaya’t may katwiran ang paghingi ng pag-inhibit nina Justices Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco at Renato Corona.

Sa botong 9-6, pina­boran nina SC Associate Justice Teresita de Castro, Renato Corona, Minita Chico-Nazario, Presbitero Velasco, Antonio Nachura, Dante Tinga, Arturo Brion, Leonardo Quisumbing, at Ruben Reyes ang petisyon ni Neri kung saan ginamit ang kawalan ng publication sa Senate Rules.

“Faced with the prospects of becoming crippled, should we as senators not vigorously fight the Neri decision, looking at all possible legal remedies including inhibition to defend the Senate’s constitutional role both as a co-equal and as a check and balance on the executive?” ani Pangi­linan.

Naunang kinuwestyon ni Pangilinan ang ‘kredibilidad’ at pagiging bias ng ilang SC justices lalo pa’t kilalang malalapit sa Malacañang ang pumabor sa petisyon ni Neri.

“No less than incumbent chief Justice Puno and former chief Justice Panganiban have expressed very strong opi­nions against the majority decision favoring Neri’s invocation of executive privilege,” paalala pa ni Pangilinan.