By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
(Eagle News) – Various judges and court employees association on Monday (May 21) called on the public, the media, lawyers’ groups and other sectors to respect the decision of the Supreme Court which ousted Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice.
In a statement titled “Nag-iisang Korte Supreme, Sumulong Ka,” these various groups representing judges and court employees nationwide stressed that it is only the Supreme Court which has the vested power to interpret the Philippine Constitution and various Philippine laws.
“The interpretation and application of the Constitution, laws and rules exclusively belong to the Supreme Court. Not to the Executive Department. Not to Congress. Not to media. Not to the practicing lawyers and law students. Not to the clergy. Not even to the people,” their statement said.
They said that Sereno still has the option to file a motion for reconsideration, and that the Rule of Law should be respected.
“Nagsalita na po ang Korte Suprema. Tanggapin po natin ito nang may buong paggalang at respect, at sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa tinatadhana nito. Tumalima po tayo sa Rule of Law,” their statement said.
It was signed by Philippine Judges Association president Judge Felix Reyes, the president of the Philippine Association of Court Employees Atty. Maria Fe Maloloy-On, the president of the Supreme Court Assembly of Lawyer Employees Atty. Rene Enciso, and the president of the Supreme Court Employees Association Erwin Ocson.
Their statement stressed how it was important for the nation to allow the justices of the high court to be “free to decide impartially, in accordance with the proven facts and the applicable law.”
They said that this SC final decision will be “inspired solely” by the SC justices’ “knowledge of the law and the dictates of their conscience, without regard to what the people may desire, and without fear of reprisal, intimidation, threats of impeachment, corruption influence of political groups and other unworthy motives.”
“This is the real essence of Judicial Independence,” their statement said.
The various groups also praised the 14 SC justices who participated in the deliberations on the quo warranto petition.
“Ipinamalas po ng ating labing-apat na Mahistrado ang kanilang angking talino, tapang at kagitingan. Mabuhay po kayo. Nasa likod nyo po kami,” they said.
Their statement also reminded the public not to use “freedom of expression” to threaten, shame and try to weaken the Supreme Court.
-Freedom of expression, not absolute-
While they recognize this right to free speech by anyone, the judges and court employees associations noted that this right was not absolute.
“Lubos po naming kinikilala ang malayang pamamahayag ng bawat isa, ngunit ang lahat ng mga ito ay may hangganan,” their statement read.
The various court judges and employees associations, including the associations of SC lawyers and employees vowed to fight these threats by anyone to “divide, weaken or destroy (hatiin, pahinain o buwagin)” the Supreme Court.
They said that the high court would continue to move forward and progress despite the controversies and challenges that arose after its recent decision on the quo warranto case against Sereno.
“Irespeto, igalang at tanggapin natin ang naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema, at magiging desisyon nito sa motion for reconsideration, at hayaan ang kasaysayan ang humusga sa magiging pangkalahatan at kahuli-hulihang paspasiya nito,” their statement read.
The various SC employees and lawyers, together with representatives of the Philippine Judges Association, the Philippine Association of Court Employees, attended Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the SC grounds wearing red in support of the “one Supreme Court.”
-Various groups march to support SC-
Other groups which also marched outside the Supreme Court, along Padre Faura, to support the SC decision ousting Sereno also wore red. Bearing banners with the words ”Salamat Po Korte Suprema,” “Celebrate the Eight” referring to the eight justices who voted to oust Sereno, and “We Support the Supreme Court,” they showed their support and gratitude to the high court on its decision that ousted Sereno as Chief Justice.
The groups included the SC Citizens’ Crime Watch and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).
The SC justices who attended Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the SC premises were Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Teresita De Castro, Noel Tijam, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Samuel Martires, and Mariano del Castillo.
(Eagle News Service)
