Ex-DOJ chief's group slams De Lima's statements vs SC

"Arrogant and disrespectful." This was how the former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Alberto Agra and his group described incumbent Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for her statements against the Supreme Court (SC). On Monday, Agra and member of his legal think-tank group Forensic Solutions criticized De Lima for saying that the court's decision was based on politics and not on doctrine. "It sends the message that members of the judiciary must toe the president's political line, otherwise, its decision will be labeled 'principally political and no longer doctrinal,'" Forensic Solutions said in a statement. "Imprudent and cavalier criticism against the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, is a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary. Making statements that bring discredit to the Court is irresponsible and dangerous and smack of arrogance and disrespect," the group added. As of posting time, De Lima has not replied to GMANews.TV's request for her reaction. De Lima earlier criticized the SC after it ruled as unconstitutional on December 7 President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's Executive Order (E.O.) No. 1 creating the Truth Commission. The Truth Commission is the body that was tasked to investigate the alleged corruption and cheating scandals that hounded the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The commission head was former SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. De Lima earlier said Arroyo's "wise investments" in the high court were paying off when the SC, composed mostly of Arroyo-appointed justices, voted to nullify Aquino's E. O. No. 1 for being unconstitutional. Impeachment threats vs Corona Forensic Solutions also cautioned Aquino's allies at the House of Representatives against initiating impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Renato Corona. Statements threatening to move for Corona's impeachment, the group said, should be brought to the "halls of justice and not to the halls of public opinion." "The power of the legislative branch to impeach is not a punitive remedy available to its members against the co-equal judiciary whenever the latter’s decisions fail to serve the former’s political agenda," the group said. Forensic Solutions likewise underscored that "political retaliation is not a ground" for impeaching a member of the high tribunal. Aquino earlier said he heard of talks to impeach Corona at the House of Representatives but seemed not inclined to support the undertaking. [See: Aquino: Impeach move vs Chief Justice untimely] The Supreme Court's deputy spokesperson, Gleoresty Guerra, earlier quoted Corona as telling SC critics to read the court's decision first before issuing threats to impeach him. Guerra likewise reminded the public that the court's decision is not Corona's alone, but of the high tribunal itself. — RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV