New Era University

COLLEGE OF LAW
Quezon City

SYLLABUS1 OF THE COURSE ON

“PROBLEM AREAS IN LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS”

by
Prof. DEMAREE JESUS BARAÑGAN RAVAL
Second Semester, School Year 2016-2017

A. OVERVIEW

1. Historical background
2. Principal functions of the Congress of the Philippines
a. Law making
b. Oversight
c. Representation
3. Exercise of Legislative Power

B. NATURE AND SCOPE OF ‘INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION’

1. Constitutional Basis
a. Article VI, Section 21 – Constitution
b. Article VI, Section 22 – Constitution
c. Article VI, Section 16(3) – Constitution

2. Legislative enactments
3. Rules of Procedure
4. Rules of Inquiry
5. Nature of ‘Inquiry’
6. Scope: Any and all matters vested by the Constitution in Congress

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The lectures will be delivered with the use of power point slides citing applicable case law, provisions of the Constitution
and legislative enactments, issuances of inter-parliamentary organizations, and current events on legislative investigations

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C. PROBLEM AREAS

1. Initiation of inquiry

2. Jurisdictional challenge

3. Valid legislative purpose

a. Scope
b. Limitations

4. Committee(s) conducting the inquiry

5. Compulsory process
a. Appearance of witness
b. Participation of resource persons
c. Production of Documents

6. Comity
a. Between the two Houses of Congress
b. Between parliamentary committees
c. Pending judicial action
d. Pending investigation by other agencies

7. Rights of witnesses and resource persons

a. Privilege against self-incrimination
b. Right to privacy
c. Right to counsel

8. Executive session

9. Grant of immunity
a. Republic Act No. 6981 (1991)

10. Sanctions
a. Contempt citation
b. Detention

11. Executive Privilege

a. Investigation of Executive officials
b. Appearance of Executive officials

11. Rule of Evidence

12. Committee Reports

13. Published Rules

14. Conduct of counsel

16. Judicial intervention

17. Others

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D. RELEVANT CASE LAW ON “INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION” 2

1. Arnault vs. Nazareno, G.R. No. L-3820, 18 July 1950

2. Arnault vs. Balagtas, G.R. No. L-6749, 30 July 1955
3. Bengzon vs. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, G.R. No. 89914, 20 November 1991
4. Garcillano vs. The House of Representatives Committees, G.R. No. 170338,
28 December 2008
5. Neri vs. Senate, G.R. No. 180643, 25 March 25, 2008
6. Philcomsat vs. Senate, G.R. No. 180305, 19 June 2012
7. Romero vs. Estrada, G. R. No. 174105, 2 April 2009
8. Sabio vs. Gordon, G.G. No. 174340, 17 October 2006
9. Senate vs. Ermita, G.R. No. 169777, 20 April 2006
10. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee vs. Majaducon, G.R. No. 136760, 29 July
2003
11. Spouses de la Paz vs. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, G.R. No.
184849,
13 February 2009
12. Standard Chartered Bank vs. Senate Committee on Banks, G.R. No. 167173,
27 December 2007
13. Barenblatt vs. United States, 360 U.S. 109
14. Kilbourn vs. Thompson, 279 U.S. 263
15. McGrain vs. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135
16. United States vs. Icardi, 140 F. Supp. 38
17. Unites States vs. Orman, 207 Federal Reporter, 2d (September 18, 1953)
18. United States vs. Rumely, 345 U.S. 771
19. Sinclair vs. United States, 279 U.S. 263
20. Thomas Quinn vs. United States, 349 U.S. 155
21. Watkins vs. United States, 354 U.S. 155

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To be assigned as a problem area is discussed