Uphold rule of law, Puno tells Noynoy

Uphold the rule of law. This was the unsolicited advice outgoing Chief Justice Reynato Puno gave Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III after the Liberal Party standard bearer said he planned not to be sworn in by incoming chief magistrate Renato Corona. Puno, whose resignation will take effect on Monday, added that Aquino's refusal to recognize Corona will just create "constitutional crisis" that can even further divide the society. "Without the rule of law our society will disintegrate. All of us should observe the rule of law. Nobody can excuse himself and say he is not covered by the rule of law. The higher you are in the government the more you should respect the rule of law," Puno said. "As a leader of the nation, [Aquino] should lead in the healing of the many wounds that fester the society," he added. Corona, who was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s former chief of staff and spokesman, was named as Puno's successor last Wednesday. Citing the constitutional ban on midnight appointments, Aquino, who is leading by five million votes over his closest rival in the first nationwide automated polls last May 10, reiterated his opposition to the Supreme Court's decision to allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to name the new chief justice. However, Puno stressed that the SC has already made a decision on the contested provision. "Let the healing process start," he said. 'Sorry for the wrong birthday' Meanwhile, Puno congratulated his successor by apologizing to him for his "wrong birthday." "I am sorry that my birthday has been causing you some problem. If it is of any help, I am willing to file a petition for habeas data to change the date of my birthday but I know that is the wrong remedy," Puno said in his speech during his retirement ceremony. After the event, Puno said upholding the judiciary's independence would be the biggest challenge to Corona's leadership. "He has to keep judiciary especially the Supreme Court completely independent with the integrity intact. The only enduring capital of the high court is its credibility," Puno said. People's court As for his leadership, Puno said he wants the people to remember the Supreme Court under his three-year stint as a "people's court." Puno, the Philippines' 22nd chief justice, said that under his term, justice was made easier for the less privileged, epecially through programs like Justice on Wheels. He was also able to find solutions to the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances by initiating the writs of Amparo and writ of habeas data, which he said have now become the "shield of the people." Puno said through such programs he hopes that the people's constitutional right to life, liberty, and security. "If you want to name the high court during my watch, I wish you would not name it a Puno court but a people's court. He also said he would not join any partisan politics and plans to remain apolitical after his retirement. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV