SEN. RICHARD J. GORDON'S RESPONSE TO ATTY. TOPACIO'S RECENT STATEMENT ON DARGANI-ONG RELEASE
May 22, 2022

In the landmark ruling Arnault v. Nazareno (G.R. No. L-3820, July 18, 1950), the Supreme Court En Banc did not find sound reason to limit the power of the legislative body to punish for contempt to the end of every session and not to the end of the last session terminating the existence of that body.

The Supreme Court added that the Senate is a continuing body and which does not cease to exist upon the periodical dissolution of the Congress. There is no limit as to time to the Senate's power to punish for contempt in cases where that power may constitutionally be exerted.

More than seventy years later, the Supreme Court En Banc, in its wisdom, has yet to overturn such elementary doctrine.

Congress is in the Third Session of the 18th Congress. This Congress ends at noon of June 30. Thus, any power that the Senate possesses and exercises does not end on June 3.

If Counsel for any of those detained has a problem with that, let him go to court for a clear interpretation of when a particular Congress -- this 18th Congress -- ends.