PARTIDO Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Negros president Jesus Clint Aranas said the decision made by the Supreme Court (SC) in ousting former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has, in fact, showed judicial independence.
The decision was made without political color because the composition of the Supreme Court is not all Duterte appointees, he said, adding they come from varied presidential appointments including the former President Benigno Aquino III.
Aranas, who was in Bacolod City on Saturday, May 12, said it was a decent way out for Sereno because she was judged by her own peers and did not create a Constitutional crisis.
A lot of sectors including the Church reacted to the decision taken by the SC on the quo warranto case filed against the former chief justice.
Aranas agreed that people should speak up because “we are in a democracy.”
"If the people will react and rise against this decision then let the people speak. The voice of the people is supreme. I am in politics but I am very apolitical. For me, what is good for the people, the people should do. They do what they have to do. If they think it is wrong, then speak about it because we are in a democracy," he said.
Meanwhile, as to the selection of candidates of the administration party for the 2019 polls, the PDP-Laban has its own Constitutional process of selecting candidates, he said.
"The party's Constitution should be followed in choosing candidates. PDP is the only faction. The future candidates should go to the Constitutional process. I just guide the politician because I am not a politician myself and I am not a political kingmaker," he said.
He further hopes that somebody would have a vision for Negros adding that "I want Negros to rise," he said.
He also said that he is not running.
"I will never be in politics. I will not be beholden to the 3-year and 6-year rule. It is just totally not me. I will not be in that vicious cycle of getting elected and re-elected every 3 to 6 years. I can never speak my mind again. An ordinary citizen like me can speak my mind,” he added.
On the possible merger between United Negros Alliance (Una) and Love Negros, Aranas said they should unite for Negros.
"Why don't we unite for Negros? Why should we have political colors? What can parties do? I am calling for unification for Negros. Let us do this for Negros. You look at other provinces, they are progressing,” he said.
The governor is supposed to govern and not to act like a kingmaker. "He should govern the province and bring it towards progress. I am not saying that the governor is not doing that. I am sure that he is doing a good job. But I would like to see a very progressive province competitive to the others. Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is my party mate. I hope he continues to do a good job for Negros and if not, improve on it."
Meanwhile, he said "we cannot be certain if there will be elections next year. What we can be certain is that we can choose our own leaders. The power to decide who to lead should be the people.”