Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition demanding the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to release the complete draft of its partial report on alleged irregularities in nationwide flood-control projects. This decision was delivered on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the petition for mandamus and certiorari was filed by lawyer Eldrige Marven Aceron. The SC determined that there is no constitutional or legal requirement for the Senate panel to release a preliminary draft report of its investigation into the questionable flood-control projects.

The Supreme Court clarified that a draft report remains a preliminary document and only becomes part of the official Senate record once it is finalized, approved by the Committee, and submitted to the Senate plenary in accordance with the Senate's internal rules.

The SC stated, "Since no law requires the Committee to release an unfinished draft report, mandamus cannot be used to compel its disclosure." It further explained that mandamus is applicable only to compel a public official or body to perform a ministerial duty clearly required by law, which involves no discretion.

The court dismissed the petitioners' assertion that the committee's refusal to release the draft report violated their constitutional right to information, emphasizing that this right is not absolute.

"It is subject to recognized limitations, including the deliberative process privilege. This privilege protects internal discussions while a decision is still being made, allowing officials to freely exchange views without the risk that preliminary or tentative positions will be mistaken for final decisions," the court stated.

Furthermore, the SC highlighted the constitutional principle of separation of powers, noting that courts generally cannot interfere with matters within the Legislature's discretion or with Congress's internal procedures, provided these actions remain within constitutional limits.

Aceron filed the petition after a purported draft partial report was leaked to the media in February. The leaked draft allegedly recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges, including plunder, against several senators and other public officials.