Practice question
A Senate committee says it will conduct a hearing solely to decide whether particular private defendants are civilly liable in an existing court case. It expressly disclaims any legislative purpose. Does calling the hearing a legislative inquiry supply the missing constitutional basis? Explain using Bengzon without asserting that every pending court case bars a related legislative inquiry.
Legal references
- 1987 Constitution, Article VI Section 21: https://lawphil.net/consti/cons1987.html
- Bengzon Jr. v. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, G.R. No. 89914, November 20, 1991, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1991/nov1991/gr_89914_1991.html
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