After the newly formed multisectoral group Sagip Korte Suprema has called on all presidential candidates to sign a covenant blocking the appointment of a new Chief Justice by President Arroyo immediately senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal called on her fellow presidential candidates to unite in condemning president’s Arroyo’s alleged intent for “silent grab for power.” Probably, if not for a political gimmickry, she’s so afraid of Gloria’s extension to power after her term. And who is not anyway.
But whatever be her (Madrigal’s) intention in echoing the sentiments of the Sagip Korte Suprema group to fellow presidential candidates it’s an eye opener for everyone to be vigilant that while we are all focused on the May 10 elections “GMA (president Arroyo) and her cohorts have set the stage for her to stay in power beyond her term.”
Madrigal also warned that the automated poll system might be used to ensure the victory of Gloria Arroyo’s presidential candidate. She feared that with the appointment of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit (defying military tradition of seniority in the system) as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the incoming appointment of a new Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court Gloria will have no difficulty to execute her sinister plan to prolong her stay in power.
“The appointment of the new Chief Justice despite the constitutional prohibition is not only illegal but immoral and unethical as well,” she said.
Madrigal also said that any presidential candidate who would not oppose Ms Arroyo’s appointment of a new Chief of Justice “does not deserve the people’s mandate.”
But Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar does not feel any of Jamby ’s (Madrigal) fear. He said all legal remedies should be exhausted first before presidential candidates sign a covenant that would reject Ms Arroyo’s appointment of a Chief Justice because as this would be tantamount to not recognizing the Constitution thus putting the new elected president in a difficult situation.
Former president Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino fears nothing and sees no problem at all. If ever he will win in the election, he can take his oath before a new Chief of Justice even if appointed by Gloria. “If it’s according to the Constitution, what can we do?” Estrada, said.
Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party on the other hand said that the next Congress could impeach Ms Arroyo’s appointed Chief Justice “if his or her appointment was found to have been made on unsound legal principles.” The nine justices who voted to authorize Ms Arroyo to make the appointment would be liable for impeachment according to senator Aquino.
“The legislature has the power of impeachment if it feels there are grounds to impeach an impeachable constitutional body… We need the new Congress, after having organized itself, to determine whether or not there is a need for the impeachment process.” Aquino said.
On his part, Gilbert Teodoro the administration candidate said that the President should exercise prudence ” in considering whether or not an appointment should be made” and let her successor name the new Chief Justice to avoid undermining the high court’s credibility. “If I were in her position, I would not make the appointment given the controversy surrounding the issue.”
“I think that despite the ruling, prudence is the order of the day. We’re talking about the credibility of the institution that is the Supreme Court. I will not even bother to give ‘advice,’ but prudence is the necessary thing,” he said.
But Jamby’s fear should not be ignored in the light of the possibility of a military uprising as a result of the Palace’s “concluding maneuver to control the judiciary in its effort to avoid prosecution for its high crimes against the people” as stated by detained ex Brig. General Danny Lim who is now running as a senatorial candidate under the banner of the Nationalista Party . He said the threat of “a soldier’s revolt” was “always there” as a result of the purported undermining of democratic institutions.
And this is the greatest fear of all; a military Junta whether on the side of the opposition or in the present administration. If there is a failure of election, who will rule on who will be in power? If the Senate President is not available, is it not the Speaker of the House? Jun Lozada has already expounded in this scenario, aren’t we that alarmed that a chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and a Chief of Justice will be in placed to backed up militarily and legally who ever be elected as the Speaker of the House to be appointed as the interim president? And will you not be as paranoid as Jamby when that elected Speaker of the House and appointed as the interim president is no other than but Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?
I am just praying greed and lust for power shall be set aside for the greater interest of the Filipino people.
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