Group to urge Puno to run with 2M signatures

MANILA, Philippines - An anti-traditional politics group on Saturday said it has started a signature drive aimed at convincing Chief Justice Reynato Puno to run for president in the upcoming 2010 presidential election. Nilo Tayag, convenor of the Ayaw sa “Trapo" (traditional politics) Movement (ASTM), said during a press conference at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City that they are planning to gather at least two million signatures for a campaign they are calling, “Chief Justice Puno for President Movement." Tayag is a former political prisoner and is currently a church leader for the Iglesia Catolica Filipina Independiente (ICFI). Tayag said they have decided to throw their support behind Puno because the chief magistrate possesses “moral integrity" which they said are absent in most politicians currently in office. “Hindi naman natin kailangan masyado ng street-smart o malawak ang kaalaman sa executive department. Ang pinakahinahanap natin sa isang leader ay ang moral integrity… na siyang wala sa isang politikang walang kunsisyensa at prinsipyo," Tayag said. [We are not looking for someone who is street-smart or has vast knowledge of the executive. What we are looking for in a leader is his moral integrity.] Amid rumors of a brewing move to kick him out of his post, Puno had earlier called on the public, especially the religious sector, to create a moral force that would redirect the “destiny of a country in moral decadence." Tayag told reporters during Saturday’s press conference that all their members have agreed that Puno possesses the four “C" they are considering as criteria for a good president, namely: commitment, cleanliness and competence, and Christianity. Makati Business Club chairman Ramon del Rosario had earlier given their support for Puno if ever the Chief Justice decides to vie for the presidency next year, QTV’s Balitanghali reported Saturday. Del Rosario said that their members are one in believing that Puno has the traits of a good leader. Appreciated but objected For his part, SC spokesman Midas Marquez welcomed the signature drive but insisted that Puno will likely turn down offers to jump over from the judiciary to the executive branch of government. “The Chief justice is very appreciative of these efforts but we remain in our opposition. We’d rather stay in the courts. We have so many things to do in the court. We already have plans in the court," Marquez said. One of the immediate and pressing problems that the SC is currently dealing with is the continued swirling of rumors to unseat Puno for allegedly sitting on a disqualification case in connection with the 2004 elections. Marquez said until now, they have no idea where the rumors of a plot to impeach the Chief Justice are originating. “We have been hearing it but we don’t know where it’s coming from… Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi sila nag-i-identify. Kung ganun rin naman na wala, let’s stop talking about it na lang," Marquez said. Still, he said he is hoping that when Congress resumes this coming Monday, no one would come forward to lodge an impeachment complaint against Puno. “I hope it will not proceed. Congress is opening on Monday. If it’s not filed on Monday, it can be filed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday... but I hope it will not be filed at all," Marquez said. “I’ve been requesting everyone to stop this talk because we don’t want to include the judiciary in the political maneuvering. Let us shield the SC from these political intrigues so we can concentrate on our cases," he added. The election complaint in question was the one filed by the wife of former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras seeking to disqualify her opponent Jocelyn Limkaichong. The election protest – questioning Limkaichong’s citizenship – was entertained but was allegedly supposed to have been dismissed by the Supreme Court en banc after 14 justices, minus Puno, signed a draft decision for it. The draft ruling however leaked while it was not yet being promulgated. - GMANews.TV