MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court upheld the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s discretion to keep its unfinished flood-control report confidential, ruling that the right to information does not cover preliminary legislative deliberations.
In a resolution issued Wednesday, the En Banc dismissed the petition filed by lawyers Eldrige Marvin B. Aceron, Sikini C. Labastilla and Purificacion Bartolome-Bernabe seeking to compel the committee to make public the complete draft.
The petition stemmed from the leak of a draft partial committee report in February 2026, which was reportedly obtained by several media organizations.
The leaked document allegedly recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges—including plunder—against several senators and other public officials in connection with alleged irregularities in nationwide flood-control projects.
But the high tribunal said the petitioners could not use mandamus to force the Senate panel to release the document.
Mandamus may compel a public official or government body to perform a ministerial duty clearly required by law, the Court explained. It cannot be used to dictate the exercise of discretion.
In this case, the Court found no constitutional or statutory requirement ordering the Blue Ribbon Committee to release an unfinished draft report.
The Court stressed that a draft was only a preliminary document. It becomes part of the official Senate record only after it is finalized, approved by the committee and submitted to the Senate plenary in accordance with the chamber’s internal rules.
The petitioners also argued that withholding the document violated the constitutional right to information.
The Court rejected that argument, emphasizing that the right to information, while constitutionally protected, is not absolute and is subject to recognized limitations.
