SC spokesman to Noynoy: Study oath-taking decision well

If only to show harmony among the three branches of government, President-apparent Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III may want to reconsider his decision not to take his oath as president before Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Supreme Court’s spokesman said Tuesday. High Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said that while there is no law requiring Aquino to take his oath before the Chief Justice, doing so is a symbolic act of recognizing a co-equal branch of government. “Nagsisimula na naman tayo. Dapat magtulungan ang tatlong sangay ng gobyerno (We are about to embark on a new beginning. The three branches of government must help each other)," Marquez said in an interview on dzXL radio. Last week, Aquino said at a press conference in Tarlac province he was not inclined to take his oath before Corona, who President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed as the new Chief Justice. Corona, a former spokesman and chief of staff of Mrs. Arroyo, took his oath in Malacañang Monday, with media not allowed to cover the event. Aquino, who said he would rather take his oath before his local barangay (village) captain, said he does not want to take his oath before an official whose appointment was questionable. But on Monday, Liberal Party spokesman Rep. Lorenzo “Erin" Tañada III said Aquino will take steps to avert a constitutional crisis over his refusal to recognize Corona as Chief Justice. “Hindi pa final ang decision ni Sen. Aquino diyan. Pero what is clear under our Constitution, di necessarily Chief Justice ng Supreme Court ang mag-a-administer ng oath (Aquino has not made a final decision on who will administer his oath. But what is clear under our Constitution is that it is not necessarily the Chief Justice who should administer the oath)," Tañada said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Malacañang warned Aquino over the weekend he could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis and divide the nation if he continues to defy the appointment of Corona. Critics described the appointment of Corona as a move by Mrs. Arroyo to shield her from possible graft investigations by her successor. “Maliwanag ang sabi ni Sen. Aquino, he is not going to promote a constitutional crisis (Aquino has been clear on the matter, he will not promote a constitutional crisis)," Tañada said. For his part, Marquez said Aquino’s taking his oath before Corona would symbolize his recognition of the judiciary, a co-equal branch of government. “Ang panunumpa sa Chief Justice ay recognition ng sangay ng gobyerno ... Siguro pagisipan nang mabuti naman (Taking his oath before the Chief Justice wilkl show his recognition of the judiciary, a co-equal branch of government. We hope he thinks about it)," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV