SC ‘spectacle’ worries Pelaez, splits lawyers

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

MISAMIS Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez has expressed his disappointment over the “internal squabbles” in the Supreme Court, saying Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s leave of absence as a result of the bickerings among magistrates is unprecedented.

“I’m sad about what’s happening in the Supreme Courts,” said Pelaez even as he pointed out that citizens have always held Justices in high esteem.

Pelaez said he could not recall when the SC was headed by an officer-in-charge as a result of internal squabblings.

He said the “internal squabbles” have become a “public spectacle.”

He said he hoped the administration of justice in the country would not be adversely affected.

This came even as lawyers here greeted Sereno’s leave of absence and the bickerings in the SC and between congressmen and the Chief Justice with mixed reactions.

Lawyer and former congressman Erasmo Damasing Jr. criticized members of the Lower House over what he called as “premature attacks” on the Chief Justice.

Damasing singled out Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, House justice committee chairman, over his alleged pre-judgments.

“Nabulingan ang imahe niini sa Korte Suprema kay wala pa may decision ang Impeachment Court nga sad-an si Sereno. Dili maayo kini nga pronouncement, premature pa,” said Damasing.

Another lawyer, former vice mayor Antonio Soriano, said the entire SC is not under attack by the Lower House.

“Si Chief Justice ra man tungod sa   impeachment complaint,” said Soriano.

He said the move of the Justices in convincing Sereno to take a leave of absence was a good sign.

“Ang ilang pag-convince ni Chief Justice Sereno nga mag-leave,  nagpasabot nga sila mismo gahimo ug lakang, nga limpiyohan nila ang ilang korte sa mga membro nga dilin angay  magpadayon sa puwesto,” Soriano said.

Lawyer Eddie Cuaresma, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro, agreed with Soriano that the image of the SC has not been affected.

Cuaresma said the only problem is Sereno’s failure to declare her statement of assets and liablites and net worth.

“She has to comply with that because nobody is exempted, even the President himself,” Cuaresma said.

Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the Chief Justice’s leave of absence would just provide a breather but it would not have a bearing on the Sereno case.

“CJ Sereno’s taking a leave of absence does not absolve her from or convict her of any liability for any offense of which  she is charged. It is just her way, probably, to take a breather from what she might believe to be a ‘congestive atmosphere’ in the SC while she is awaiting the formal start of her investigation,” said Pimentel, a lawyer.

The move to go on leave, according Pimentel, would have no favorable of unfavorable implications.

“Let us wait for the result of her investigation where evidence for or against her are aired before an appropriate agency,” Pimentel said.

Cuaresma said Sereno’s leave of absence would have no effect on the work of the SC, pointing out that it is a collegial body, and that there were still 14 Justices who can decide on cases.

But ex-congressman Damasing said Sereno’s absence could cause “a bit of delay” in decision-making.

“Ang importante sa ilang session sa 14 ka nabilin nga mga Justices nga na-ay ilang quorum ug kay 14 ra man sila, kinahanglan nga na-ay walo ka mga Justices nga motunga sa ilang en banc  session,” said Damasing.