SC to Palace, De Lima: Don't comment on issues you don't comprehend

A Supreme Court official on Friday lashed back at Justice Sec. Leila de Lima and a Palace spokesman for issuing statements on an issue they do not entirely "comprehend." Court administrator and spokesman Midas Marquez defended the Supreme Court anew against criticisms in connection with the recall of a September ruling that would have benefited members of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) in the groups labor dispute with the Philippine Airlines. Reacting to De Lima's earlier pronouncement branding the court's move as a "flip-flop," Marquez said: "Since (the Department of Justice) [and the Palace] also have their own issues that need to be addressed, it would be best if they attend to those concerns first before giving unsolicited advice on something they don't really comprehend." The court has insisted the move could not be considered a "flip-flop" but merely a "recall" of the decision, which means it has to be reviewed anew by the court sitting en banc before coming up with a final resolution on the matter. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier advised the high court to be more careful in coming up with rulings to prevent sudden recall or reversal of "final" rulings. In criticizing the SC's move, Lacierda said: “When is a final decision final? Kung nag-desisyon na po sila sa FASAP na final decision at executory na, bakit biglang magkakaroon ng isang pagbabawi sa desisyon? Hindi ba iyon nakakasira ng kredibilidad ng Korte Suprema?" Members of the FASAP on October 11 staged a rally outside the SC building in Manila to protest the court's recall of its Sept. 7, 2011 ruling declaring as illegal the dismissal of 1,400 Philippine Airlines workers in 1998, and asking the PAL management to pay P3 billion to the workers. — LBG, GMA News