The Philippine Online Chronicles

Well, I’m not a legal expert, but it seems to me that the Supreme Court really erred big time on this matter. For one thing, it released its decision without even hearing oral arguments on the matter of the Supreme Court appointment. I mean, what’s the rush? Will the Philippines collapse if there’s no new Chief Justice after incumbent CJ Reynato Puno steps down in May?

It’s really impossible to understand how the Supreme Court could have made this decision that directly violates the Constitution: is it then any wonder why so many Filipinos have lost their faith in the system of law in this country? Those who promulgate the law and are tasked to uphold it find it so easy to thumb their nose at it in defiance just to make sure that the agenda of the powerful and moneyed are met.

Now, Macapagal-Arroyo will be able to effectively make two appointments: one for the post of Chief Justice upon CJ Puno's retirement, and another for the post to be vacated by the judge she promotes to Chief Justice. The prerogative to appoint the next Chief Justice was unjustly and illegally claimed, and so close to Arroyo’s deadline to step down! No matter how you look at it, the law was twisted and manipulated.

But then again, it’s easy to see how all this may be part of Macapagal-Arroyo’s overall strategy to protect herself when her term is over. Arroyo may want to pack the SC with her appointees and Congress with her stooges in case an opposition president is elected so that she will be safe from charges filed in court, from Congressional investigations, and will pave the way for a return to power as prime minister via cha-cha. She could be hoping that a CJ she appointed will act as her protector from the whole slew of cases that will be thrown her way the minute she steps down. She may think that she will be able to escape criminal prosecution for all the scandals that she and her administration have been involved in in the last nine years.

She has not even spared the party-list system suspicious minds may think she machinated to have her allies stand as standard bearers of bogus party-lists. The very intention of the party-list law — to provide a venue for marginalized sectors to be represent themselves and their interests in the legislative arena – has been bastardized.

Outgoing Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo is the first nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy, while Dennis Pineda, the outgoing mayor of Lubao, Pampanga, is the group’s second nominee. Kelan pa naging myembro ng marginalized sector si Mikey (it’s a group of security guards and tricycle drivers he’s supposed to be representing, hah!)?

Macapagal-Arroyo looks determined to weasel through whatever criminal charges may come her way. If she is hell-bent on covering all bases before she steps down from the presidency, all her efforts are aimed at two objectives: 1) escaping criminal liability; and 2) perpetuating herself in power by becoming prime minister. This may be precisely why she is running for congress, and why her allies are infiltrating the party-list system. The shocking greed for power and shamelessness is galling, but it’s not surprising.

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