Monday, November 03, 2008 Nalzaro: Spare the judiciary from politics By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
AILING Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña continued his attacks on Gov. Gwen Garcia calling her the “queen of darkness” after the lady governor withheld the monthly allowances of some Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges who rendered unfavorable decision in cases involving the Provincial Government.
“We will not allow the queen of darkness to intimidate our courts. She has no respect for a profession where her own mother distinguished herself,” the mayor told City Hall reporters through a text message.
The mayor issued this statement when he learned that some RTC judges did not get their monthly allowance because they dismissed cases filed by the Provincial Government against the mayor. The Provincial and City Governments provide monthly allowances to the regional and municipal trial courts judges in the amount of P6,000 and P5,000 respectively.
Provincial and city prosecutors also enjoy the same privilege.
Although, this has been practiced for quite some time I think the High Tribunal should review this because it somehow affects the independence of the judiciary. The governor reportedly withheld the allowance of Judge Bienvenido Saniel after he dismissed the case filed by the Capitol against the Metro Cebu Water District that questioned the authority of Mayor Osmeña to appoint a member of the water firm’s board of directors.
But it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The mayor did the same thing to a judge. Maybe he forgot that he also withheld the allowance of a judge when the latter ordered that public utility jeepney units impounded by Citom be returned to their owners. Now I believe the mayor is suffering from an old age syndrome. He even withheld the monthly allowance of Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro for no apparent reason.
Worst, just to get an upper hand against the governor, Tomas has offered to provide judges brand new cars. For me, this is indirect bribery and it is not proper and ethical for the City’s chief executive to be doing this, as this might affect the independence of the court. We can expect that the next venue of the continued animosity between Capitol and City Hall will be the court.
Gwen is in the mood of recovering Province-owned lots in the city, which Tomas strongly opposes. He has warned to take Capitol to court. So perhaps he wants a favorable decision from members of the judiciary, hence the offer of the new cars. There are more or less 20 RTC judges at the Palace of Justice.
That’s a whopping P20 million from City Hall’s coffers if we peg the price of each vehicle at P1 million per unit.
Mind you, the City suffers from a financial crisis because of its huge debt on the South Road Properties.
I am reminding those city councilors who are practicing lawyers to be extra careful about the mayor’s offer once this reaches the council as this will put their profession in question. Good that Hon. Edgardo Labella has already registered his inhibition once a budgetary resolution to this effect reaches the council, saying he has pending cases in various RTC salas.
But what about lawyer-councilors Gerry Carillo. Hilario Davide III, Joey Daluz and Vice Mayor Michael Rama? Do you have the delicadeza to inhibit? Pasagdi nalang na si Jack Jakosalem ug Jun Pe kay dili na mga abogado pareho nako.
But I am calling our City and Capitol politicians to please spare the judiciary from your personal conflict and from the dirty games of politics.
