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Monday, March 31, 2008
Palace hits SC critics (10:38 a.m.)
MANILA -- Malacaņang defended the Supreme Court (SC) from those who criticized its decision upholding the President's right of executive privilege.
"Whether the SC decision is for or against one party, we should always respect it. Let us not badmouth the Supreme Court (SC) when the decision is against us," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye announced.
Bunye said SC justices have maintained their independence even if the President, contrary to some people's accusations, appointed most of them.
"It is still the majority that rules and prevails," he added.
The press secretary has released copies of an interview with former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to members of the media. The interview was circulated in a North American magazine.
Davide was appointed by Arroyo as ambassador to the United Nations (UN) after his retirement from the High Court.
In the interview, Davide emphasized the SC as "the last bulwark of democracy, the guardian of the rule of law, and the guarantor of stability."
"Thus, while criticisms of its decisions may be allowed, such must never denigrate the decisions for they weaken not jut the Supreme Court but our democratic system as well. The decision on Neri (former socio economic secretary Romulo Neri) must therefore stand and be respected unless the Supreme Court reverses itself on a motion for reconsideration reasonably filed by an aggrieved party to the case," he said.
The exchanges of views on the SC decision showed "a healthy sign of the vibrant democracy in our country," he added.
Bunye said the move of the Senate to file a motion for reconsideration on the SC decision is "expected."
Last week, with 9-6 votes, the SC ruled that Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri can invoke executive privilege and that he cannot be compelled to answer three questions that the Senate feels crucial in its inquiry on the controversial broadband project. (JMR/Sunnex) |
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