Aquino assures safety of democracy and sacredness of the individuality of the branches of government
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on Tuesday that the country’s democratic processes and the sacredness of the individuality of the branches of government is and will be preserved in light of his support for the Articles of Impeachment that seeks to remove Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona from his appointed position.
The President sought to downplay the concerns expressed by various legal experts and constitutionalists that a Constitutional crisis would prevail if the government would continue to pursue its case against Corona, saying these concerns and the accompanying “exchange of opinions” showed that democracy was truly alive and blossoming in the country.
“Ang pagsasalita pa lang nila ebidensya na siguro na hindi nadi-diskaril ang ating demokrasya at bagkus buhay na buhay ang ating demokrasya. ‘Yung pagpapalitan ng kanilang opinyon, ‘di ba, may nagmumungkahi, mayroong kontra doon; ‘pag nag-dayalogo, nagkausap, mapapaganda nila ‘yung mungkahi ng nauna,” the President said.
“So ‘yun lang po ang nangyayari sa ating proseso ngayon dito. At marami na rin namang mga abugado ang nagpasabi sa atin na sang-ayon sila sa ating mga pinaggagagawa. At ‘yung iba ho medyo kinakabahan na baka ma-sanction ng Korte Suprema kaya nananahimik. Hindi ibig sabihin na mas marami ho ang naniniwalang hindi tama ang ginagawa natin. Palagay ko po kung babasehan pa natin ‘yung mga survey na lumalabas eh karamihan ng mga Pilipino ay talagang sumang-ayon sa atin pong ginawa,” he added.
In his speech at the political caucus held at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, the President said his government was forging on with its quest to effect changes in the Philippine justice system, as his and the people’s responsibility to ensure that the next generation would be left with an honest and just judiciary.
“May responsibilidad tayo sa ating mga sarili, sa ating kapwa Pilipino, at lalo na sa salinlahing paparating pa lamang. Isa lang ang pinagpipilian natin: tanggapin ang kasalukuyang situwasyon na hindi tumutugon sa kagustuhan at pangangailangan ng nakararami o itulak ang pagbabago, at bumuo ng sistema kung saan mananagot ang may kasalanan, maski sino ka man,” the President said.
“Pagkatapos po ng mga prosesong ito, sinisiguro ko may naitindig na tayong mas matibay na mga institusyong kaytagal pinahina ng nakaraang administrasyon. Ito po ang ating ipamamana sa susunod na salinlahi. Nananalig akong tayo'y magtatagumay dahil tayo'y nasa tama, at hangad natin ang ikabubuti ng nakararami kung hindi ng lahat. Sa lahat ng Pilipinong naghahangad ng malawakan at makabuluhang pagbabago, abot-kamay na po natin ito; nakikita ko na ang tagumpay kung bawat isa sa atin ay gagawin ang nararapat at makatuwiran. Hayaan po nating kunsensya ang magtimon sa atin” he added. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on Tuesday that the country’s democratic processes and the sacredness of the individuality of the branches of government is and will be preserved in light of his support for the Articles of Impeachment that seeks to remove Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona from his appointed position.
The President sought to downplay the concerns expressed by various legal experts and constitutionalists that a Constitutional crisis would prevail if the government would continue to pursue its case against Corona, saying these concerns and the accompanying “exchange of opinions” showed that democracy was truly alive and blossoming in the country.
“Ang pagsasalita pa lang nila ebidensya na siguro na hindi nadi-diskaril ang ating demokrasya at bagkus buhay na buhay ang ating demokrasya. ‘Yung pagpapalitan ng kanilang opinyon, ‘di ba, may nagmumungkahi, mayroong kontra doon; ‘pag nag-dayalogo, nagkausap, mapapaganda nila ‘yung mungkahi ng nauna,” the President said.
“So ‘yun lang po ang nangyayari sa ating proseso ngayon dito. At marami na rin namang mga abugado ang nagpasabi sa atin na sang-ayon sila sa ating mga pinaggagagawa. At ‘yung iba ho medyo kinakabahan na baka ma-sanction ng Korte Suprema kaya nananahimik. Hindi ibig sabihin na mas marami ho ang naniniwalang hindi tama ang ginagawa natin. Palagay ko po kung babasehan pa natin ‘yung mga survey na lumalabas eh karamihan ng mga Pilipino ay talagang sumang-ayon sa atin pong ginawa,” he added.
In his speech at the political caucus held at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, the President said his government was forging on with its quest to effect changes in the Philippine justice system, as his and the people’s responsibility to ensure that the next generation would be left with an honest and just judiciary.
“May responsibilidad tayo sa ating mga sarili, sa ating kapwa Pilipino, at lalo na sa salinlahing paparating pa lamang. Isa lang ang pinagpipilian natin: tanggapin ang kasalukuyang situwasyon na hindi tumutugon sa kagustuhan at pangangailangan ng nakararami o itulak ang pagbabago, at bumuo ng sistema kung saan mananagot ang may kasalanan, maski sino ka man,” the President said.
“Pagkatapos po ng mga prosesong ito, sinisiguro ko may naitindig na tayong mas matibay na mga institusyong kaytagal pinahina ng nakaraang administrasyon. Ito po ang ating ipamamana sa susunod na salinlahi. Nananalig akong tayo'y magtatagumay dahil tayo'y nasa tama, at hangad natin ang ikabubuti ng nakararami kung hindi ng lahat. Sa lahat ng Pilipinong naghahangad ng malawakan at makabuluhang pagbabago, abot-kamay na po natin ito; nakikita ko na ang tagumpay kung bawat isa sa atin ay gagawin ang nararapat at makatuwiran. Hayaan po nating kunsensya ang magtimon sa atin” he added. (PCOO)
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Aquino says divergent opinions on Corona’s impeachment is proof that democracy is working
Divergent opinions being raised by various individuals on the issue of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment by an overwhelming number of lawmakers from the House of Representatives is proof that democracy is working, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.
The President made the statement when asked to comment on reported criticisms hurled by people from the legal arena over his influence on the Lower House’s recent actions that led to the potential ouster of the Chief Justice through an impeachment trial to be conducted by the Senate soon.
“Marami na rin naman hong mga abugado ang nagpasabi sa atin na sang-ayon sila sa ating mga pinaggagagawa. At ‘yung iba ho medyo kinakabahan na baka ma-sanction ng Korte Suprema kaya nananahimik,” President Aquino told members of the Malacañang Press Corps in an interview he granted after a political caucus held at Edsa Shangri-la in Ortigas.
“Hindi ho ibig sabihin na mas marami ho ang naniniwalang hindi tama ang ginagawa natin. Palagay ko po kung babasehan pa natin ‘yung mga survey na lumalabas, karamihan ng mga Pilipino ay talagang sumang-ayon sa atin pong ginawa,” he added.
In his speech delivered before congressmen who voted for the impeachment of Corona, the President said it was not his desire for the situation to reach this point as his government tried so hard to understand the actions of the Supreme Court only to realize that they are futile under Corona’s watch.
President Aquino enumerated a number of reasons why they believe Chief Justice Corona is no longer fit to lead the Supreme Court foremost of which is his strong association to former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was his appointing authority.
“Isa sa ating ipinangako sa taumbayan ay isang sistemang pangkatarungan kung saan ang gawaing masama ay may kaukulang kabayaran. Simula pa lamang po, inasahan na sa akin ng taumbayan ang paglalatag ng proseso upang pasagutin si Ginang Arroyo sa mga katiwaliang lumaganap diumano sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon,”he said.
The President explained that his government tried to pursue this mission through the establishment of a Truth Commission which was later on declared "unconstitutionall" by the Supreme Court. “Hindi po kami sang-ayon, pero pinilit po naming sundin ang kanilang desisyon, bilang paggalang sa institusyon ng Korte Suprema,” he said.
The President cited cases involving erstwhile Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, and midnight appointee Bai Omera-Lucman of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, saying that the Supreme Court’s decisions over these matters brought grave implications to the country.
But the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court against the travel ban imposed by the Department of Justice on Arroyo who was then being investigated on various charges was the one that served as a trigger point for the government to convince itself on Corona’s partiality to his appointing authority.
“Agad pong ibinaba ang TRO nang hindi man lamang dininig ang panig ng gobyerno. Pilit po nila itong iginigiit, bagaman hindi natupad ni Ginang Arroyo ang lahat ng mga kondisyon na ang Korte Suprema rin naman ang nagtakda. At nang pinilit ng spokesman niya na may bisa ang TRO kahit di naabot ang kundisyon, hindi man lang siya itinama ng Punong Mahistrado—testigo po kayong lahat diyan,” he said.
“Sa ganitong lantarang pagtanggal ng piring ng katarungan, kailangan po nating tanungin ang sarili: hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis, hanggang kailan tayo uunawa, hanggang kailan tayo magpapasensya? Sobra-sobra na po ang ebidensya; aasa pa ba tayong magbabago si Ginoong Corona? Naging kumbinsido po tayo na pagdating kay Ginang Arroyo, walang tama o maling kinikilala si Ginoong Corona,” he added.
The President called on the embattled Chief Justice to face the impeachment trial at the Senate and answer at once all the various allegations being leveled against him. “Ginoong Corona: Sa Kongreso at Senado, harapin mo ang pinagmulan ng poder mo --:ang taumbayan,” he said.
“Kinabukasan po ang ating hinuhubog sa ngayon. May responsibilidad tayo sa ating mga sarili, sa ating kapwa Pilipino, at lalo na sa salinlahing paparating pa lamang. Isa lang ang pinagpipilian natin: tanggapin -- ang kasalukuyang situwasyon na hindi tumutugon sa kagustuhan at pangangailangan ng nakararami o itulak ang pagbabago, at bumuo ng sistema kung saan mananagot ang may kasalanan, maski sino pa man!” the President exclaimed at the concluding part of his speech.
“Huwag po natin hayaang imaneobra ang katarungan para gawing itim ang puti, o gawing tama ang mali. Hindi po natin ginustong humantong sa ganitong pagkakataong malamang magiging masalimuot, pero hindi rin po natin matitiis ang patuloy na pagdurusa ng taumbayan. Hindi natin kayang maging taksil sa sinumpaang panata,” he said further. (PCOO)
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Declaration of court holiday is example of how justice can be subverted – Malacanang
The sudden declaration of a court holiday on Wednesday (December 14) is yet another example of how justice can be subverted to further the interest of one, a Palace official said.
Aquino says divergent opinions on Corona’s impeachment is proof that democracy is working
Divergent opinions being raised by various individuals on the issue of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment by an overwhelming number of lawmakers from the House of Representatives is proof that democracy is working, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.
The President made the statement when asked to comment on reported criticisms hurled by people from the legal arena over his influence on the Lower House’s recent actions that led to the potential ouster of the Chief Justice through an impeachment trial to be conducted by the Senate soon.
“Marami na rin naman hong mga abugado ang nagpasabi sa atin na sang-ayon sila sa ating mga pinaggagagawa. At ‘yung iba ho medyo kinakabahan na baka ma-sanction ng Korte Suprema kaya nananahimik,” President Aquino told members of the Malacañang Press Corps in an interview he granted after a political caucus held at Edsa Shangri-la in Ortigas.
“Hindi ho ibig sabihin na mas marami ho ang naniniwalang hindi tama ang ginagawa natin. Palagay ko po kung babasehan pa natin ‘yung mga survey na lumalabas, karamihan ng mga Pilipino ay talagang sumang-ayon sa atin pong ginawa,” he added.
In his speech delivered before congressmen who voted for the impeachment of Corona, the President said it was not his desire for the situation to reach this point as his government tried so hard to understand the actions of the Supreme Court only to realize that they are futile under Corona’s watch.
President Aquino enumerated a number of reasons why they believe Chief Justice Corona is no longer fit to lead the Supreme Court foremost of which is his strong association to former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was his appointing authority.
“Isa sa ating ipinangako sa taumbayan ay isang sistemang pangkatarungan kung saan ang gawaing masama ay may kaukulang kabayaran. Simula pa lamang po, inasahan na sa akin ng taumbayan ang paglalatag ng proseso upang pasagutin si Ginang Arroyo sa mga katiwaliang lumaganap diumano sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon,”he said.
The President explained that his government tried to pursue this mission through the establishment of a Truth Commission which was later on declared "unconstitutionall" by the Supreme Court. “Hindi po kami sang-ayon, pero pinilit po naming sundin ang kanilang desisyon, bilang paggalang sa institusyon ng Korte Suprema,” he said.
The President cited cases involving erstwhile Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, and midnight appointee Bai Omera-Lucman of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, saying that the Supreme Court’s decisions over these matters brought grave implications to the country.
But the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court against the travel ban imposed by the Department of Justice on Arroyo who was then being investigated on various charges was the one that served as a trigger point for the government to convince itself on Corona’s partiality to his appointing authority.
“Agad pong ibinaba ang TRO nang hindi man lamang dininig ang panig ng gobyerno. Pilit po nila itong iginigiit, bagaman hindi natupad ni Ginang Arroyo ang lahat ng mga kondisyon na ang Korte Suprema rin naman ang nagtakda. At nang pinilit ng spokesman niya na may bisa ang TRO kahit di naabot ang kundisyon, hindi man lang siya itinama ng Punong Mahistrado—testigo po kayong lahat diyan,” he said.
“Sa ganitong lantarang pagtanggal ng piring ng katarungan, kailangan po nating tanungin ang sarili: hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis, hanggang kailan tayo uunawa, hanggang kailan tayo magpapasensya? Sobra-sobra na po ang ebidensya; aasa pa ba tayong magbabago si Ginoong Corona? Naging kumbinsido po tayo na pagdating kay Ginang Arroyo, walang tama o maling kinikilala si Ginoong Corona,” he added.
The President called on the embattled Chief Justice to face the impeachment trial at the Senate and answer at once all the various allegations being leveled against him. “Ginoong Corona: Sa Kongreso at Senado, harapin mo ang pinagmulan ng poder mo --:ang taumbayan,” he said.
“Kinabukasan po ang ating hinuhubog sa ngayon. May responsibilidad tayo sa ating mga sarili, sa ating kapwa Pilipino, at lalo na sa salinlahing paparating pa lamang. Isa lang ang pinagpipilian natin: tanggapin -- ang kasalukuyang situwasyon na hindi tumutugon sa kagustuhan at pangangailangan ng nakararami o itulak ang pagbabago, at bumuo ng sistema kung saan mananagot ang may kasalanan, maski sino pa man!” the President exclaimed at the concluding part of his speech.
“Huwag po natin hayaang imaneobra ang katarungan para gawing itim ang puti, o gawing tama ang mali. Hindi po natin ginustong humantong sa ganitong pagkakataong malamang magiging masalimuot, pero hindi rin po natin matitiis ang patuloy na pagdurusa ng taumbayan. Hindi natin kayang maging taksil sa sinumpaang panata,” he said further. (PCOO)
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Declaration of court holiday is example of how justice can be subverted – Malacanang
The sudden declaration of a court holiday on Wednesday (December 14) is yet another example of how justice can be subverted to further the interest of one, a Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement following reports that many trial courts in the country suspended hearings on Wednesday reportedly as a sign of support for embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona.
"Court hearings set for today have been cancelled - there are even reports that hearings on the Maguindanao massacre case have been reset - so that court employees can attend a hastily planned rally this afternoon in support of Chief Justice (Renato) Corona.
If this is true, then one must ask if the judiciary is not being manipulated into participating in one man's personal issues,” Lacierda said.
"We call on the Chief Justice Corona, should he deny that a court holiday has been declared, to order them back to work,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda also called on members of the judiciary not to let themselves be used to further the political agenda of one man and his patron. (PCOO)
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Aquino leads commissioning of navy assets
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the commissioning of the new and refurbished Philippine Navy ships and helicopter saying the additional naval assets will ensure greater peace and security in the country.
In his speech after the commissioning and christening of the three ships and a chopper on Wednesday at South Harbor in Manila, the President said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should put its focus not only on internal threats but also on external challenges.
“Kailangang ituon ng sandatahang lakas ang pansin sa mga banta—hindi lamang sa loob ng bansa, ngunit ngayon, maging sa mga panlabas na hamon. Bilang isang arkipelago na may 36,000 nautical miles na baybayin, mahalaga pong magkaroon tayo ng sapat at matatag na depensa upang mabantayan ang ating mga isla,” he said.
To meet these challenges, the President said, the country should modernize its military by acquiring new weapons and equipment and increasing the readiness of its forces. The acquisition of the assets by the Navy is a major thrust of the government to strengthen the country’s maritime defenses, he said.
The Chief Executive thanked the men and women in the Navy for their unwavering dedication to serve the country by securing the country’s borders.
“Sumasaludo ako sa puspusang pagsusumikap at patuloy na pagkayod ng Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, sa pangunguna ni Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, upang magampanan ang kanilang tungkulin sa bayan. Hindi po tayo makakarating sa pagkakataong ito kundi dahil sa tatag at dedikasyon ninyo,” he said.
The continuing modernization of the Philippine armed forces is a manifestation of the righteous path that the country is taking, President Aquino said. Although the military has limited resources, he said it was able to carry out its modernization program through prudent spending.
“Patunay ang narating nating ito sa layo ng kaya nating abutin kung sama-sama lamang tayong magsasagwan, at iisang direksyon ang ating tatahakin. Sa likod ng ating pagsulong, huwag sana nating lilimutin na mahaba pa ang ating lalakbayin. Manatili sana tayong nakatutok sa ating layunin, kumapit nawa tayo sa inaasam nating tunguhin: isang Pilipinas na mas matatag, mas maginhawa, mas mapayapa, at natatanglawan ng wagas na liwanag,” he said.
Among the navy assets that were commissioned Wednesday include the newly acquired Hamilton Class cutter Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gregorio del Pilar and the new Landing Craft Utility (LCU) BRP Tagbanua.
The Navy also put into service the newly refurbished BO105 helicopter donated by Department of Tourism and commissioned and renamed the Presidential Yacht BRP Ang Pangulo, formerly the BRP Pag-Asa.
BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which was acquired by the Philippine government through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program, arrived in the Philippines from the United States last August. The US-made battle ship was acquired through the Malampaya Gas-to-Power Project Funds of the Department of Energy.
The BRP Gregorio del Pilar will primarily patrol the West Philippine Sea, according to the President, adding that hopefully another Hamilton Class cutter will arrived in the country from the US.
On the other hand, BRP Tagbanua, a Filipino-made vessel, is primarily configured to transport combat personnel, tanks, vehicles, artillery equipment, and cargoes in support to military amphibious operations.
It also has capabilities to perform non-combatant evacuation; medical assistance projects; disaster, rescue and relief operations; and transport/logistics mission in support to national socio-economic projects of the government. It was built using the AFP Modernization Fund. (PCOO)
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Palace says there’s strong evidence to oust Corona
Malacanang said it believes there is strong evidence to remove Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona when the impeach trial begins at the Senate in January next year.
“At this point we believe that the evidence is strong,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in the press conference at the Palace on Wednesday when asked if the Palace is prepared for a Corona acquittal.
Fending off accusations that the next chief justice will be beholden to the Palace once Corona is removed, Lacierda said President Aquino does not ask for any commitment other than the fact that the possible next SC chief will dispense his decisions with fairness.
Corona is very close to former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo and his decisions are obviously influenced by his relationship with the former president, Lacierda said. The appointment of his wife to an executive position, which is a violation of code of judicial conduct, is an example, Lacierda said.
“Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit po kami naniniwala na si Punong Mahistrado Corona ay hindi po dapat na manatili bilang Punong Mahistrado dahil hindi po siya objective, hindi po siya impartial,” he said.
Lacierda also said he doesn’t believe that the impending Corona trial will affect the country negatively noting what is happening is a democratic process at work.
“This is democracy at work. This is vibrant democracy. This should negate the accusation that there is so called “creeping dictatorship,” the democratic voices are heard. It’s good that voices are being heard--the side of the Chief Justice, the side of the President,” he said.
Chaos and anarchy, as a result of the impeachment trial is impossible, according to Lacierda because the public will be tuning in to the Corona trial. There is no anarchy when people are going to participate by listening and watching the trial, he added.
Asked about a pacifier to have a ceasefire between the executive branch and the judiciary that are currently at odds, Lacierda said there is no middle ground at this time because Corona has already been impeached and there’s a case that is about the start in the senate.
Corona’s accusation about a President Aquino “dictatorship” is untrue, Lacierda said. The Palace is supporting his removal because it believes Corona is a stumbling block to its reform programs, he added. (PCOO)
