ABSTRACT This article examines the legal issues arising from the recent political controversy surrounding the National Broadband Network deal between the Philippine government, and the Zhing Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corporation of China. In the ensuing case of Neri v. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Philippine Supreme Court was confronted with the issue of whether the principle of executive privilege could prevail over the principles of accountability of public officers and separation of powers. This paper revisits this decision and asks whether the ruling conforms with Philippine and American jurisprudence and theories.