Noynoy willing to join street protests vs SC decision on chief justice issue

(Updated 4:27 p.m.) BAGUIO CITY — Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Friday said he was willing to join street protests against the Supreme Court decision allowing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice of the high tribunal. Aquino said he hopes the people in the provinces where he is set to campaign in the following days will understand if he does not proceed there as scheduled to join protest marches against the Supreme Court decision. "Meron yatang mga protest marches na gustong ilunsad ng iba’t ibang grupo na tulad ko ay naguguluhan sa decision ng SC (I think there are protest marches being planned by different groups who, like me, are confused by the SC decision)," Aquino told reporters at the Loakan airport here where he is campaigning. "Sana wala tayong conflict na pinadala tayo kung saan, alam ninyo apat na probinsya siguro tayong pinangakuan na lilitawin natin. Sana maintindihan nila kung tayo ay sumama sa protest movement (I hope there will be no conflict, because we have committed to show up at four provinces. I hope they will understand if I will join the protest movement)," Aquino said when asked whether he would join the protests. Among the groups reported to be planning to hold protests over the controversial SC decision are the Anakpawis party-list and Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) who are expected to stage their own protest among Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City at 5 p.m. Friday. Earlier in the day, various groups staged a rally in front of Supreme Court in Manila condemning the nine justices who voted in favor of the decision allowing Mrs. Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice. A GMA News report said partylist group Kabataan even set on fire the pictures of the nine justices. Among those who joined the protest action were independent presidential candidate Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal, senatorial candidate Akbayan Rep Ana Theresia Hontiveros, Senator Francis Pangilinan, and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño. Pessimistic on motion for reconsideration The groups said they will be filing a motion for reconsideration against the SC decision. As if on cue, Aquino said he support any motion for reconsideration to be filed, even as he is not expecting the high tribunal to reverse its decision. "Sa tradition bihira pag nag-decision en banc na nire-reverse ang sarili nila (Traditionally they rarely reverse a decision made en banc)," Aquino said. Aquino said that if a chief justice is appointed by the Arroyo administration, there are legal means that can be considered by the new administration, including impeachment of officials involved, if the court decision is later found to be unsound. "If it can be proven that the decision was not done on sound principles, that might be a ground for impeaching an impeachable officer," he said. Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the only incumbent Supreme Court member not appointed by Mrs. Arroyo, is set to retire May 17. Controversial decision On Wednesday, the Supreme Court voted in favor of Mrs. Arroyo's appointment of Puno's replacement even during the election period. The court’s decision on Wednesday was a response to separate petitions asking the high tribunal to prevent Mrs. Arroyo from appointing Puno’s replacement. The petitions were from the Philippine Bar Association, chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the National Union of Philippine Lawyers and party-list group Akbayan. In their decision, the nine justices who comprised the majority vote said the appointment ban cited in Section 15 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution only applies to the executive department. [See: Supreme Court allows Arroyo to appoint next chief justice] The decision was met with protests from legal experts and critics of the Arroyo administration, who fear that Mrs. Arroyo would be able to tighten her hold on the high court if she is allowed to appoint the next chief justice before she bows out as President on June 30. — with a report from Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMANews.TV