Home 
CEBU CITY, Philippines - Cebu judges, lawyers and other local groups joined the outcry against moves to oust Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
Along with law students and human rights advocates in Metro Cebu, supporters came together to oppose a reported plot to impeach the Chief Justice.
“This planned impeachment move is a manifest disrespect for a co-equal branch of government, the Supreme Court,” read a two-page statement of supporters.
“Among all State institutions now, the Supreme Court is the only bright light and the saving grace of our fragile democracy as it has managed to detach itself from the dirty world of politics, despite the efforts of some sectors to destroy its integrity.”
The joint resolution, entitled “Enough is Enough: Don't Drag the Supreme Court Into the Dirty World of Politics” was signed by representatives of lawyers’ organizations and law schools, among others.
It will be sent to the House of Representatives, Supreme Court, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) head Office.
Charter change being pushed by allies of the Arroyo administration is expected to test the Supreme Court if the politically charged issue is brought before the court.
Pressure on Chief Justice Puno, who may pose an obstacle to Cha-cha efforts, is seen to be linked to these efforts.
“Something is cooking in the halls of Congress -- and it stinks,” said the statement of Cebu-based lawyers, law students and civil society.
The Supreme Court is the remaining “bright light” and “saving grace of our democracy” because it has managed to remain independent, they said.
The groups also threw their support behind Puno “under whose watch unprecedented mechanisms to protect human rights and our ecosystem are already legacies to a country faced with serious governance problems.”
Among the signatories of the statement were Judge Gabriel Ingles, Cebu City Palace of Justice spokesman representing the Regional Trial Court judges; Noel Adlawan, IBP-Cebu province chapter president; Briccio Boholst, IBP-Cebu City president; Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, IBP Cebu City chairperson on environment committee; and Kit Enriquez, president of the National Union of People's Lawyers-Cebu.
The other signatories were lawyer Elias Espinoza, lawyer Baldomero Estenzo, dean of the University of Cebu College of Law; lawyer Mark Chang, Association of Law Students of the Philippines' national president; lawyer Dante Ramos, University of Cebu Law professor; Jose Pedrosa, USC Lex Circle's minister for external and internal affairs; Jose Gochangco, USC Lex Circle president; Dennis Abarrientos of Karapatan Central Visayas and Vince Cinches of the Fisherfolks Development Center Inc.
They lamented that the “accountability mechanism” of impeachment “has been denigrated into a self-serving political tool to serve selfish political ends.”
They said congressmen continued to push their own agenda amid the uncertainty due to lay-offs and unemployment as a result of the global financial crisis.
“Congress has not even come up with a bill to stem the unstoppable effects of global warming and its negative impact on human and economic development and the quality of our life,” the statement said.
Philippine bishops have not issued a statement yet on the Puno ouster move.
None was issued either by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who is still in Manila for a medical check up.
“Maybe he will do so when he arrives,” said Monsignor Achilles Dakay, Cebu Archdiocese media liaison officer.
Dakay said the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is the proper body to issue a statement on behalf of the Church.
Talk of a brewing attempt to impeach Puno developed over the weekend based ostensibly on allegations that he did not promulgate a Supreme Court decision supposedly disqualifying Negros Oriental Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong.
The complaint would allegedly be spearheaded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's partymates in the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), whose bet, Olivia Paras, lost to Limkaichong.
Paras is the wife of former congressman Jacinto Paras, also a Kampi member.
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon said the Palace could be behind the move to oust Puno as part of a “grand plan” to remove all roadblocks against its push for Charter change.
The Palace denied the allegation and said critics were merely seeking attention.
The Charter change issue is expected to be brought before the Supreme Court as the House of Representatives plans to convene itself into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution, a move opposed by the Senate.
“Never again,” said Judge Ingles of RTC Branch 58.
“The dark days of martial rule taught us that for a political leader to perpetuate himself or herself in power and become a dictator, he or she has to destroy the judiciary by simply appointing a Supreme Court Chief Justice and justices ready and willing to legitimize the dictatorship,” he added.
Ingles, whose gave a statement in behalf of all Cebu City RTC judges, said one should never allow a dictator to rule once more and that such dangerous moves should be stopped early on.
While the reported plot to oust Puno may be unverified, Ingles said it is important that people remain vigilant and show grave concern.
Ingles said that Cebu City RTC judges view Puno as a person who has stood firmly for judicial independence and lived by his philosophy, “Espouse no ideology but constitutionalism; uphold no theology but the rule of law.”
“Thus, he is an obstacle to any political leader who wants to destroy our democracy in order to stay forever in power and place our country under the rule of men not law,” he said.
Estenzo-Ramos, meanwhile, said, “There's no reason not to believe why Charter Change is not the reason behind the plot to oust Puno.”
She said the moves to push Charter Change have revived in past months and appear to be the motive behind the expected impeachment attempt.
The move to oust Puno was another attempt to influence the Supreme Court and should be stopped, Boholst said.
Pedrosa said they would oppose any move to impeach the Chief Justice as “he represents integrity.”
“If he (Puno) will be removed, we will be left with Arroyo appointees,” he said.
All 15 justices are appointees of President Arroyo.
Enriquez asked the people to remain vigilant.
“(Arroyo) will be doing everything to perpetuate herself because she will not step down come 2010,” he said.
The Manila-based Asia Pacific Bar Association aired the same concern.
“The sinister move undoubtedly seeks to destroy the most credible institution of Philippine democracy ... The House of Representatives should not allow itself to be the refuge of disgruntled party litigants. These party litigants should not seek unconstitutional remedies against the decisions and resolutions of the Supreme Court, before Congress,” the group said.
Lawyer Roberto Rafael Lucila, the president, said their group was “alarmed by the recent developments.”
“We're looking at 2010 and the fact is there is a Charter Change movement that needs to leave the station and there would be vacancies in the (Supreme Court). These confluence of imperils the integrity of the judicial process,” Lucila said.
The Asia Pacific Bar Association was organized in August last year. Its members include individual law practitioners, law offices, members of the academe and some business groups. /with Inquirer
