Senators convinced Malacañang behind oust Chief Justice plot

By Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta

01/13/2009

Senators were united in the belief that the Palace’s fingerprint was all over the reported ouster move against Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Reynato Puno, it was gathered yesterday.

But Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday said this was mere speculation as well as being unfair to President Arroyo in pointing the finger of the alleged plot to oust the high court chief.

Some senators who have issued a statement regarding the alleged move to impeach Puno, risking the possibility of their being called to inhibit in the event the case is transmitted to the upper chamber where they sit as judges in an impeachment proceedings, said the move was apparently initiated by former Rep. Jacinto Paras, a staunch ally of Mrs. Arroyo.

SC officials, meanwhile, urged for sobriety after reports surfaced on efforts to oust Puno ahead of the expected political cases expected to be filed in the runup to next year’s elections.

In a press briefing, SC spokesman Midas Marquez reiterated his call urging parties not to drag the tribunal into a political controversy.

Marquez also commented on claims that Palace allies are out to remove Puno to consolidate support in the tribunal for charter change and the possible extension of term for the president.

“If there is Cha-cha, it is speculation to assume how CJ Puno and the other justices vote as well. It is premature and very early to comment on that allegation,” Marquez added.

The SC spokesman said that in a previous claim involving a case for a people’s initiative to extend the term of then President Fidel V. Ramos, Puno was in the minority and voted for people’s initiative. “In the case of (Cha-cha advocate lawyer Raul)Lambino,. He (Puno) had a dissenting opinion. He was for people’s initiative.”

Reports alleged that the threat against Puno is tied to the SC’s alleged non-promulgation of a decision disqualifying an incumbent House member despite the concurrence of 14 other justices.

The matter pertains to the disqualification case against Negros Occidental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, who won against Olivia Paras in the 2007 elections.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Richard Gordon expressed belief that the issue is beyond that of the Paras case, belittling the former congressman’s capability of luring the entire House of Representatives into his supposed agenda against the SC chief, if reports are indeed true.

It is possible, Gordon said, that some Palace allies are toying with the idea of pursuing Cha-cha by removing Puno out of the picture knowing full well that the SC chief is a major stumbling bloc.

Gordon said moves to oust Puno could be politically motivated and may only cause public uprising if pushed through without concrete evidence that the Chief Justice is guilty of irregular acts.

Sen. Francis Escudero said the basis of the ouster move is political, plain and simple.

Commenting on the issued resolution in the Limkaichong case, SC’s Marquez explained that “a draft whether signed by one or signed by all, remains a draft until it is promulgated.” He added even if signed by justices if it has not yet been promulgated it is still not a decision and votes can still be overturned . “Sometimes justices change their mind when voting in a motion for reconsideration. What more on a draft which is not yet promulgated.” he added.

Marquez also said the SC committee looking into the leak already conducted two hearings. Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House insisted the reported impeachment move against Puno was a mere rumor adding that the reported move “was too far-fetched.”

Speaker Nograles said the “rumors” stemmed from former Senate President Franklin Drilon where the story was alleged to have originated. Drilon was alleged to have said that the move to oust Puno came from Malacañang or Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the Lower House.

“Please tell former Senate President Frank Drilon that the connection of (impeachment) and Cha-cha is too far -etched, even in the spelling,” Nograles said.

House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong echoed the statement of Nograles, adding that President Arroyo had no hand in the impeachment threat against the Chief Justice.

“GMA has nothing to do with that (Puno impeachment). Even among members of Congress, I have not heard of anyone interested in a thing like that,” he said.

“Well, if there is anyone (who wants to impeach Puno), it must be somebody who is interested in this case. I don’t see any relation between that rumor of impeachment with the proposed amendments to our Constitution,” he said.

Congressional sources, however, said that the move to oust the chief justice may have been prompted by Puno’s interest in running for the presidency. “The chief justice is now considered as another political rival,” the source said yesterday.

Gerry Baldo

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