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Sunday, October 26, 2003
Davide: House won't wreck me
MANILA -- President Arroyo finally shed her neutrality and openly defended beleaguered Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. Saturday against those who are trying to impeach him.
This, as she denied having a hand in the impeachment of Davide while Davide urged lawmakers not to let themselves be used to destroy the country's institutions.
In a 15-minute interview with Court Administrator Presbiterio Velasco over ABS-CBN's news channel, Davide said there was nothing extravagant about the improvements on the Supreme Court building and dismissed as "completely false" the allegation that the High Court failed to pay employees P527 million in allowances.
"I would like to emphasize, it is not the chief justice they are destroying. It is the court, the last bulwark of democracy, so I will be very, very sad for our country if they will push for it," Davide said.
"Weaken the judiciary, and you weaken democracy. And a weak democracy is no democracy at all," he added.
Arroyo vouched for Davide in her speech at the opening of the Palarong Pambansa in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Her defense of Davide also came after she was severely criticized for her neutrality.
It also came after she was accused by administration Sen. Joker Arroyo of allowing Davide's impeachment in a bid to win the 2004 elections by ensuring the unity of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) of Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., whose ill-gotten wealth cases are pending with the High Court.
Arroyo's statement earlier in the morning at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) was still a bit neutral.
"Nalulungkot ako sa kasong impeachment kontra kay Davide (I am saddened by the impeachment case against Davide). I have the highest esteem for Davide. His integrity and professionalism are impeccable. I am confident that the congressmen and the Supreme Court will be able to settle their differences and avoid an unproductive clash between these two independent and co-equal branches of government," she only said.
But her tone became more combative when she opened the Palarong Pambansa in Lanao del Norte. The games were supposed to be held in April but it had to be postponed thrice due to threats to the security of the 7,000 athletes following bombings and clashes with Muslim secessionist rebels.
Arroyo said: "No chief justice has undertaken a reform program of the judiciary as comprehensive and far-ranging as the program now undertaken by Chief Justice Davide. This is a bold and revolutionary reform effort that will bring our judicial system to the 21st century. It is a vital effort that strengthens our democracy and satisfy our people's demands for reliable and speedy justice."
"I will ensure and uphold... the integrity of the institutions of the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives," she said.
She expressed hope that the country would be able to overcome the conflict and that the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court would eventually resolve their differences.
"Maging sa bansa o sa palaro kailangan ang (Whether it be for the nation or for sports, you need) fair play at teamwork. We need fair play. Kailangan natin ang katarungan (We need justice). And we need teamwork. Kailangan natin ang pagkakaisa. Kailangan natin ang reconciliation maging sa bansa, maging sa palaro (We need unity. We need reconciliation whether it be for the country or for sports)," she added.
Clash of principles
Arroyo's socio-economic planning chief Romulo Neri suggested for the Supreme Court to be more transparent in the midst of damaging allegations against Davide.
"The judiciary isn't keen on explaining its actions. They look at themselves as above the rest, that's their culture. I think the SC should also come down to earth. Over there they think they're among the clouds," Neri said in a radio interview.
Neri theorized that because of this "clash of principles" between the judiciary's culture and some "idealistic" lawmakers, the issue might have been blown out of proportion.
Neri said he believes that, while lawmakers insist on their right and the public's right to know, the judiciary insists on its co-equal status as a branch of government.
He also admitted he will have to do much explaining to the business community, which he said was "surprised" by the impeachment move. The peso fell below P55 to $1 Friday.
"So it's really more of a clash of principles. If only the market understands these dynamics, it wouldn't be so agitated by these developments," he said.
Neri said what is happening now is "not a destabilization process, but is really more of a clash of principles."
Neri, meantime, lashed at Sen. Joker Arroyo for hinting that the impeachment move was a deal between Malacaņang and businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
"We're the ones complicating the problems with our solutions. Sometimes we bloat the problem," he said.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye takes "strong exception" to Sen. Arroyo's claim that a Malacaņang-Cojuangco deal was behind Davide's impeachment.
Bunye reiterated that President Arroyo "respects" the "independence" of all three branches of government -- executive, judiciary, and legislative.
"Arroyo's accusation is unfair. The President's position on matters involving Congress, the Supreme Court and the Senate is she considers the three as independent bodies, so she does not meddle in the internal affairs of these organizations. So, we take strong exception to the allegations of Arroyo," he said in a radio interview.
Bunye added Mrs. Arroyo favors the quick movement of the impeachment process, though he said only Davide could answer calls from some sectors for him to resign. He also said the impeachment process will not likely damage government institutions as feared by some traders, so long as it proceeds quickly.
"If the process moves with swiftness, and we follow the rules, I think our institutions will remain strong and stable," he said.
Lawmakers moved to impeach Davide after failing to get an explanation from him on the use of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF).
Senate President Franklin Drilon admitted he does not know how long the impeachment trial for Davide will take, though he said the rules of the impeachment court require senator-judges to hold hearings from 2 p.m. onwards, Monday to Friday.
"I can't tell. I haven't even seen the articles of impeachment. I don't know how many witnesses the House, as prosecutors, will be presenting. I don't know how many documents will be submitted," Drilon said.
Impeachment trial
Senate President Franklin Drilon in an interview Saturday said as soon as the Senate receives the Articles of Impeachment, the senators will take oath as judges in an impeachment court and send a copy of the complaint to Davide, giving him 10 days to submit his answer.
Drilon, a former justice secretary, again cautioned the Supreme Court justices not to prejudge whether this second impeachment complaint against Davide is constitutional, and to leave that decision to the Senate.
Sen. John Osmeņa begged off from commenting, saying it would not be prudent for him to issue a statement as a judge in the impending trial.
Opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara also said the impeachment is too sensitive to comment on, but commented that he found it "too speculative" to implicate President Arroyo in the plot to impeach Davide.
Drilon, Osmeņa and Angara were in Cebu Saturday for the opening of the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center in Lahug, Cebu City.
Resign
Representative Felix William Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, who was interviewed Saturday, said Davide committed technical malversation in handling the JDF and that he should resign or leave his office or avail of the early retirement.
Fuentebella said Davide's impeachment has nothing to do with politics. He reminded the Chief Justice not to ignore the Senate trial or he would be cited in contempt.
Former senator Kit Tatad, in a television interview, said Davide was just reaping what he sowed. He said the constitutional order or the rule of law was disturbed in January 2001 and it continued with the Supreme Court justices acting as if they are above the law. ST
(October 26, 2003 issue)
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