Sunday, March 30, 2008 Chief justice told to 'explain' ruling on executive privilege
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's election lawyer asked Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Reynato Puno to "explain" to the people that the majority decision favoring executive privilege for former socio-economic secretary Romulo Neri should prevail.
Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said while Puno had a "dissenting" opinion, he should still explain that the high court is a collegial body whose majority decision will prevail.
"Although the Chief Justice issued a dissenting opinion he should explain to the public that what must rule in the high court is the majority, not dissenting opinion, because the high court is a collegiate body," Macalintal said.
He also said Puno should clarify matters and encourage the public to "respect the decision of the majority."
The high court, voting 9-6, had upheld Neri's invocation of executive privilege in snubbing Senate investigations into the US$329.48-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp.
Macalintal also dismissed opposition claims of a constitutional crisis, saying it is all a matter of politics.
"Their claims will just pass away. They are doing that because the elections are nearing and they cannot allow this administration to succeed," he said.
On the other hand, he said the opposition should just try amending the Constitution if they are so intent on changing the government or diminishing the powers of the president.
"If they want such change, we should have Cha-Cha (Charter change)," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
