Palace downplays Noynoy plan to take oath without Corona

Malacañang on Friday downplayed the reported plans of leading presidential bet Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III not to take his oath of office on June 30 before incoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. But presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said that while taking an oath before the chief justice is a tradition and not a requirement, the public may not be willing to accept Aquino’s "snub." "Yan ay bahala na, bahala na publiko humusga riyan. Bahala siya kung anong gusto niya gawin. Pero ang pangulo [dapat] sumunod sa batas, kung para sa kanya di matanggap talagang ganyan ang batas (It is up to him to do what he wants, but it will also be up to the public to judge his actions. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo followed the law when she appointed Corona chief justice. If Aquino cannot accept that, it is unfortunate but it is the law)," Saludo said in an interview on dzXL radio. "Tayo ay hindi papatol diyan, kung ayaw niya pwede niyang kunin ang ibang opisyal (We are not going to dignify his claims. If he does not want to take his oath before Corona, he can always settle for another official)," he added. Aquino, who enjoys a wide lead in the presidential race based on partial, unofficial tallies, said he is considering not taking his oath before Corona, whose appointment he seeks to be withdrawn by President Arroyo. Saludo admitted it is up to Aquino to take his oath before any other official, not necessarily the chief justice. "Ito ang tradisyon lamang, hindi batas. Pwede kahit sinong opisyal na piliin niya para manumpa, pwede siya manumpa pero iba ang piliin na opisyal (It is just a tradition, not a law. He can take his oath before any official he chooses)," he said. But Saludo insisted Mrs. Arroyo followed the law when she appointed Corona, her former spokesman and chief of staff, as the next chief justice to replace Reynato Puno who retires May 17. He said Mrs. Arroyo acted on the basis of a Supreme Court ruling allowing her to name the next chief justice of the high tribunal. Also, he said Mrs. Arroyo chose from a list provided by the Judicial and Bar Council. "Tayo ay sumunod sa batas. Kung di matanggap yan ng ilang panig e bahala na sila pero tayo sumunod sa batas (We followed the law. If some people cannot accept that, it’s up to them but we can always say we followed the law)," he said. Arroyo unlikely to recall Corona On Thursday, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said that while Mrs. Arroyo can theoretically do so, she is not likely to bow to her critics and recall Corona’s appointment. "Theoretically she can change her decision since Corona has yet to take his oath. But I do not think it will happen," Agra said in Filipino in an interview on dzXL radio. "Palagay ko di magpapadala ang pangulo sa anumang kritisismo tungkol dito. Maliwanag ito ang karapatan niya (I do not think the President will let criticisms affect her decision. This is her right to appoint)," he added. Corona’s appointment drew flak from several critics, who urged Mrs. Arroyo to withdraw the appointment and warned Corona against accepting it. The Supreme Court acts as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to tackle cases that may be filed regarding the presidential and vice presidential race. According to Agra, Mrs. Arroyo is aware that at this time the country cannot afford a vacancy in the Supreme Court, as it has a key role if there are protests in the presidential and vice presidential elections. Moreover, Agra delivered a pointed reminder to Palace critics, including Aquino, to respect Mrs. Arroyo’s decision. Aquino had been vocal in questioning Mrs. Arroyo’s appointment of a new Chief Justice. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV