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Final SC ruling on CJ appointment slammed |
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Friday, 23 April 2010 |
“This is truly saddening and disturbing. This
decision is a proof that the independence of our Supreme Court has been
compromised with Mrs. Arroyo’s appointees. With less than three months
before her term ends, (P)GMA is really bent in establishing herself as the most
notorious and infamous president of the Philippines,” said Citizens’ Battle
Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva.
ONE of the leading government critics yesterday expressed strong disappointment
over the Supreme Court (SC) final ruling allowing President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the replacement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno who
is retiring on May 17, saying that the “independence” of institution has been
compromised.
“This truly saddening and disturbing, this decision is a proof that the
independence of our Supreme Court has been compromised with Mrs. Arroyo’s
appointees, with less than three months before her term ends, (P)GMA is really
bent in establishing herself as the most notorious and infamous president of
the Philippines,” said Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Joel
Villanueva.
“At minsan pang inilagay ng SC sa
alanganin ang reputasyon at kredibilidad ng Kataas-Taasang Korte. Saan tayo
pupunta pagkatapos nito? Sino pa ang tatakbuhan natin para magtanggol ng
kung ano ang dapat na ayon sa batas, sa huli masasabi nating tinimbang ang
Korte Suprema ngunit kulang,” said Villanueva on the ruling declaring that the
High Court was exempted from the election ban covering midnight appointments.
But Atty. Raul Lambino, a senatorial candidate of the Lakas-Kampi-Christian
Muslim Democrats (CMD), called on administration critics not to sow public
distrust for the SC by continuing to assail its decision on the
issue over the President’s power to appoint the next Chief Justice.
“Intense partisan politics have already dragged down the executive and the
legislative departments in terms of public perception, let us not do this
too to the Supreme Court,” said Lambino.
Lambino said that critics of the decision should look at it in a positive way,
noting that past and incumbent Chief Justices during the Arroyo administration
were not influenced to decide on several crucial legal issues to favor the
President.
SOURCE: People's Tonight Wednesday April 21, 2010
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