Malinaw sa Constitution ang kapangyarihan ng Kongresong imbestigahan ang mali sa lipunan.
Ito’y nakapaloob sa Article VI, Section 21 ng Konstitusyon na nagsasabi: The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.
Pinaliwanag na ng Korte Suprema- kailangan ng impormasyon para gumawa at pagbutihin ang ating mga batas.
A legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information respecting the conditions which the legislations is intended to effect or change. (Arnault v. Nazareno, G.R. No. L-3820, July 18, 1950)
Sa pag-imbestiga, may kapangyarihan ang lehislatura na magpatawag ng witnesses. Dito pumapasok ang pag-isyu ng ‘subpoena’ – o utos na magpakita at magbigay ng testimonya. Kung suwayin ang subpoena- pwedeng i-cite in ‘contempt,’ ipa-aresto, at i-detain ang witness.
Mahalaga ang mga kapangyarihang ito dahil kung hindi makukuha ang kooperasyon ng mga witness- useless rin ang imbestigasyon. Ayon sa Korte Suprema, essential ito sa kanilang trabaho–
Experience has shown that mere requests for such information are often unavailing, and also that information which is volunteered is not always accurate or complete; so some means of compulsion is essential to obtain what is needed. (Arnault v. Nazareno, G.R. No. L-3820, July 18, 1950)
No one is above the law. Ang pagtrato sa batas at kapangyarihan ng gobyerno- dapat pantay sa bawat tao.
Sa imbestigasyon, pwedeng i-invoke ang right against self-incrimination, pero kung may tanong lang. Ang witness ay may karapatang hindi sumagot, pero walang karapatang hindi sumipot. At hindi excuse na mayibang kaso nang naka-file.
Ayon sa Korte Suprema, “[T]his right may be invoked… only when the incriminating question is being asked… That this right may possibly be violated or abused is no ground for denying respondent Senate Committees their power of inquiry… [The] pendency of any prosecution of criminal or administrative action should not stop or abate any inquiry to carry out a legislative purpose.” (Sabio v. Gordon, G.R. Nos. 174340, 174318 & 174177, October 17, 2006)”
