The Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) views the lifting of the contempt order on National Security Adviser Norberto B. Gonzales by the Senate and his release from its custody as a face-saving act to preempt whatever adverse decision the Supreme Court may hand down in Gonzales’ twin petitions for bail and habeas corpus.
In a statement issued through its spokesman Jose Ricafrente, the PDSP said "the release of Gonzales from Senate custody tried to cover up the Senate’s failure to submit certified excerpts of the Journals of the Senate where the Senate approval of the Blue Ribbon Committee rules appears, or that said rules has been published at any time."
Ricafrente said the "the manifestation of the Senate asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the (two) petitions filed by Gonzales was aimed at making moot and academic the issues which the Supreme Court called not only in order but also vital."
The Supreme Court, in its Oct. 18 en banc session, ordered the parties to expound on their respective positions on whether the Senate Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation is legally valid and in effect for purposes of investigations.
"Diligent legal research showed that the present Senate failed to present documents that it has published such rules, nor presented proof that such rules have been approved by the Senate in plenary," Ricafrente said.
"The Supreme Court deemed the submission of said documents as "vital" to the resolution of the very sensitive and far reaching constitutional issues involved in the Gonzales petitions," Ricafrente said.
"However, with the precipitate dismissal being asked by the Senate of these cases, there would not be any closure to these issues, which certainly affect the legality of all past and future legislative inquiries," Ricafrente said.
