President Arroyo has not read MOA-AD - Devanadera to SC

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has never read the controversial ancestral domain agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Solicitor-General Agnes Devanadera claimed on Friday. The government lawyer made the statement during the resumption of the Supreme Court’s hearing on the petitions questioning the constitutionality of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD). “The panel conveyed to me that the MOA was not submitted to the Office of the President," Devanadera told the court. “She never saw it, she was never shown a copy." Devanadera clarified, however, that this was the arrangement that was agreed upon. “The process was the GRP will be submitting the MOA to the President after the signing," said Devanadera. When President Arroyo mentioned in her State of the Nation Address last July 28 that issues regarding ancestral domain have been resolved, she was only relating what the government peace panel reported to her, added Devanedera. ‘Unbelievable’ Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, one of the petitioners, said he finds Devanadera’s statements unbelievable. “I don’t believe that. I don’t believe at all. They are covering up from the weaknesses of the case. I cannot imagine that the whole August 5 ceremony will take place without the President’s clearance. I even had information that they discussed this in the Cabinet," said Drilon. He added that if President Arroyo had indeed read the MOA, she could be impeached because she did not stop it even though it contained unconstitutional provisions. “But the problem is they denied that the President saw the MOA and approved it," said Drilon. The Supreme Court adjourned its hearing around 6:30 p.m. Before adjourning, the High Court gave both parties 20 days to submit their memorandum – a summary of their positions – on the case. The Justices also ordered Devanadera to submit the following on Monday: the official statement given to her by Malacañang certifying that the government will not sign the MOA, the travel authority granted by the government to the government panel to go to Malaysia for the supposed August 5 signing, and the final draft of the MOA. Devanadera had earlier fumbled because there were different MOA draft copies circulated at the Court, with some not initialed and some containing names of towns that were not included in the final MOA draft. The case may be considered for resolution once the opposing parties have submitted all the requirements. Earlier during the day, Devanadera said a letter from Malacañang stated that the government will not sign the MOA even if the Supreme Court will rule favorably on it. She said that when she clarified the government’s position with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, he told her that the government will not sign the MOA “in its present form and in any other form." The government position was criticized by Sen. Mar Roxas who raised three questions regarding Devanadera's revelations. "Una, sinabi ng Solgen na hindi alam ng Pangulo ang laman nitong napakaimportanteng MOA na nagpa-partition sa ating bansa. This is outrageous. This is either untrue, or shows just how out of touch Malacañang is. It also makes us wonder what ulterior motives are involved here," he said. "Pangalawa, inamin din na walang kapangyarihan ang mga negosyador na pirmahan ang MOA. E ano ang ginawa nila sa Kuala Lumpur? Bakit dumating ito sa hantungang ito kung wala pala silang kapangyarihan?" he said. Roxas made the remarks hours after the high court ended its hearing on the MOA-AD. The senator said that when the solgen said that the MOA won't be signed in its present or in other forms, it meant that government has abandoned the whole process. "Super turnaround ito, at pinapakita na hindi nila sineryoso at hindi nila alam ang implikasyong ito," he said. He criticized the government peace panel not just for disregarding the Philippine Constitution, but for not considering the effectivity of the agreement in accordance with international law. "Malinaw na malinaw sa pagtanong ng mga hustisya na ayon sa international doctrine, kung anuman ang kasunduang ito, may implikasyon ito, at mapipilitan tayo na baguhin ang ating Saligang Batas, baguhin ang ating batas para mag-conform sa MOA,"he said. "Ang ibig sabihin ay ang MOA ngayon ang siyang iiral na batayan para sa kung ano ang gagawin sa ating Saligang Batas," he added.- Amita Legaspi and Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV