Bagama’t suportado ng karamihan sa oposis­yon ang pagkakahirang kay Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Arturo Brion bilang bagong mahistrado ng Supreme Court (SC), hindi naman kumbinsido ang isa nilang kasamahan sa katapatan at pagiging parehas nito.

Ayon kay Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero III, mahirap paniwalaan ang pagiging parehas ni Brion sa mga kasong nakasampa sa SC, katulad ng mga petis­yon ng Senado.

Bilang dating gabine­te at masunuring tauhan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, malabo ani­yang paniwalaan ang pagiging patas ni Brion sa mga petisyon ng Senado, katulad ng nakabinbing usapin sa pag-invoke ng executive privilege ni Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Romulo Neri.

“I hope I would be able to see that in the next couple of days and he stated already that he won’t inhibit in the Neri case although he is a former Ca­binet member and he was under the auspices of EO 464 and MC 108, I would want to see how he will be voting on that issue if he indeed will participate,” ani Escudero.

Sa hanay ng Solid 8, naunang sinuportahan nina Senate minority floor leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Sen. Ma­nuel Roxas II at Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III ang appointment ni Brion, maging si Senate Presi­dent Manuel Villar Jr.

Sa ngayon, maaaring gamitin aniyang depensa ni Brion ang pag-inhibit sa lahat ng isyung may kinalaman sa executive privilege subalit mahirap umanong kagatin ang senaryong magiging patas sa Senado lalo pa’t napakatagal naging tauhan ni Mrs. Arroyo.

“And I hope he will come up with a separate opinion that we can... and the newest SC justice, how he thinks Senate indeed there’s basis in its doubts and the issue raised by some sectors with respect with his appointment,” ani Escudero.