Aquino: Biggest challenge to the presidency was the judiciary

As President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III approaches his sixth month in office, he said the biggest challenges that his administration faced so far were its differences with the judiciary. "The greatest difficulty I think— and it's no secret— it has to deal with the judiciary," the President said in an interview with Palace reporters on Monday. On the other hand, Aquino said his administration's greatest achievement so far was instilling renewed hope in the Philippines. On the judiciary, Aquino cited several instances where the executive and judiciary branches were on opposite sides of national issues. Malacañang criticized the 15 members of the Supreme Court (SC), 14 of whom are appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for deciding against the Aquino administration on a number of issues, including Aquino's Executive Order (EO) No. 1. Aquino said by voiding early this month EO No. 1 creating the Truth Commission, the SC blocked the executive branch's "search for truth." The Truth Commission was tasked to investigate the corruption scandals during the nine-year Arroyo administration. Malacañang said the SC's decision on the Truth Commission sets back the government's reform efforts. Aquino commented that the SC appears to be singling out the commission that his administration created when previous governments, including that of Arroyo, also created commissions to investigate particular issues. He cited that his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino created the Presidential Commission on Good Government which was tasked to recover the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth. Aquino also cited former President Joseph Estrada's Saguisag commission which investigated the Centennial Expo issue of the Ramos administration, and the numerous fact-finding bodies that Arroyo formed during her term. "Sa 'min lang ho yata nasingle-out na unconstitutional (Ours is the only one that was singled out as unconstitutional)," Aquino said. Other differences with the judiciary Earlier in October, Aquino criticized the SC's decision to issue a "status quo ante order" on the petition of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) commissioner and secretary Bai Omera Dianalan-Lucman against Executive Order No. 2, which revoked Arroyo's "midnight" appointments. Even though the status quo ante order was applicable only to Lucman, Aquino said the SC decision "effectively turned back the clock" and "dishonors the decency of those who had the courtesy to resign." "The potential result of this will be chaos and paralysis in the Executive Branch of government, as the legitimacy of officials appointed to replace those already removed will be cast in doubt," said the President. Aquino also cited the release this month of former military comptroller Major Gen. Carlos Garcia on a P60,000 bail, which the Sandiganbayan allowed because of a plea bargain agreement where the general— who is accused of plunder— pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery. Aside from the court rulings, Aquino also took note of the low conviction rate in the country. At odds with the Chief Justice Even before he took over as president in June, Aquino was at odds with SC Chief Justice Renato Corona. Aquino had opposed Corona's appointment to the top judicial post because it was done during the election period. However, Malacañang said Aquino eventually accepted Corona's appointment after the SC ruled it as constitutional. Renewed optimism Despite his administration's differences with the judiciary, Aquino said he was satisfied with his government's performance so far. He said he was happy with the changes in the way the Philippines is viewed under his administration. "Everybody that I talked to, both local and foreign, talked to me about the renewed and enthusiastic and optimistic way they look at the Philippines," he said. Aquino said his government's slogan, "The Philippines is open for business," appears to have taken hold because several businessmen have expressed interest in investing in the Philippines. – VVP, GMANews.TV