Five presidential bets oppose SC decision on chief justice issue

Five presidential aspirants on Wednesday expressed opposition to the Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice. Ang Kapatiran standard bearer JC de los Reyes scored the magistrates for what he called a “questionable and inappropriate" decision. In a phone interview, de los Reyes expressed fears of the possibility of President Arroyo affecting the outcome of the May 10 elections. “[The SC] is being manipulated by the executive branch," de los Reyes said. Mrs. Arroyo could also use the said appointment once her term ends, especially once she is elected as representative of Pampanga’s second district, he added. “[President Arroyo can benefit from the said appointment] not only this elections but after GMA shall be congresswoman and when her gang tries to seize power by changing the Constitution," he said. Mrs. Arroyo can also influence the judiciary to avoid prosecution after her term, he added. In the meantime, Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said he was “saddened" by the high court’s decision, but vowed to follow its final decision. "Ako ay nalulungkot diyan dahil ang paniniwala ko talaga ay ang susunod na pangulo ang dapat pumili ng chief justice (I am saddened by that because I believe the next president should appoint the next chief justice)," Villar told reporters during the NP's visit at the Emilio Aguinaldo College in Cavite where his entire slate is campaigning. Villar even said he would try to appeal the high court’s ruling to prevent Mrs. Arroyo from appointing a new chief magistrate. "Titingnan natin kung makakaapela. Gagawin namin ang magagawa para hindi matuloy ‘yan pero hindi namin lalabagin ang utos ng SC (We will see if we can appeal. We will do everything we can to prevent that but we will not disobey the SC’s orders)," he said. Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III questioned the decision by citing previous jurisprudence on the President’s capability to appoint the next chief justice. Aquino said that the high court under then Chief Justice Andres Narvasa ruled in a previous decision that the outgoing president “is neither required to make appointments to the court, nor allowed to do so." The LP stand-bearer who earlier said that he would not honor an Arroyo-appointed chief justice if he wins the presidency, called the SC decision a “form of injustice" from a court “packed with Arroyo appointees." “Is this because the SC is now packed with Arroyo appointees? Ito pa rin ba ang hustisya at katarungan sa kalakaran at pamamaraan ng kasalukuyang pamunuan? Ang palagay ko ay hindi makatarungan ito (Is this justice under the Arroyo administration? I think this is a form of injustice)," he said in a statement. The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed President Arroyo to pick a replacement for Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who is set to retire on May 17 — a week after the upcoming May polls. Nine Arroyo-appointed justices — Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Arturo Brion, Jose Mendoza, Mariano del Castillo, and Diosdado Peralta — voted in favor of the President’s right to appoint the next chief magistrate. The high court ruled that the constitutional prohibition on the incumbent president to make appointments two months before the elections only covers the executive department. Gordon and Erap, too Another senator running for president, Bagumbayan party’s Richard Gordon, said he does not understand why the SC came out with such a decision, given that it can function without a duly-appointed chief justice. Although he did not agree with the decision, Gordon said he would still follow the high court’s orders. “I don't agree with it, but nandiyan na ‘yan(the decision has been made), unless it's reversed," he said. Deposed President Joseph Estrada, who is also running for president under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) maintained that the next president should appoint the next chief magistrate. The camp of administration party bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr., meanwhile, said the presidential aspirant “has no comment" on the matter, since the SC has already made its decision. “No reaction. Just follow the rule of law. The Supreme Court has already spoken," said lawyer Mike Toledo, Teodoro’s spokesperson. - Aie Balagtas See, Sophie Dedace, Jam Sisante, Amita Legaspi and Andreo Calonzo, GMANews.TV