Manila, Philippines--The Social Justice Society (SJS) urged acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera on Friday to withdraw her petition against the opening of the financial books of the Big 3 oil companies.

Lawyer Vladimir Cabigao of SJS said in a letter sent to the Department of Justice that Devanadera’s move questioning the decision of Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 26 ordering the examination of the books of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Caltex Philippines (now Chevron), and Petron Corporation is in effect contrary to the orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

President Arroyo has ordered the Department of Energy and Department of Justice (DOJ) Task Force to examine the books of oil firms.

Devanadera filed the petition before the Supreme Court, questioning the decision of Manila RTC Branch 26 Presiding Judge Silvino Pampilo who ordered the opening of the books of the "Big 3".

In his three-page order dated April 27, Pampilo cited public interest in granting a motion for the opening and examination of the books of accounts of the three oil companies.

Pampilo directed the Commission on Audit (COA), the Bureau of Internal and Revenue (BIR), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to form a panel of examiners to “open and examine the cash receipts, cash disbursement books, purchase orders on the petroleum products, delivery receipts, sales invoices, and other related documents on the purchases of the petroleum products covering the period of January 2003 to December 2003.”

But the DOJ Acting Chief argued that the Manila RTC cannot order the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct the audit of the multinational oil companies.

Devanadera further argued that it is not within the mandates of the BIR, BOC and the COA, respectively to audit private entities.