Court workers to wear black, red in protest

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Some show a yellow streak. Some show courage.

Red and black are the colors of choice for the country’s court employees as they stage a silent protest Monday amid President Benigno Aquino III’s warning of a “clash” between the executive and the judiciary over the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Malacañang’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional.

Joel Guerrero, president of the Supreme Court Employees’ Association, on Friday said employees of the high court, the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals and the Sandiganbayan have agreed to wear red or black at the start of the new work week as a symbol of indignation to attacks against the judiciary and threats to scrap the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF).

The action, expected to go nationwide through lower courts, is the court employees’ answer to President Aquino’s speech Monday questioning the Supreme Court’s July 1 ruling on DAP, which found the presidential discretionary fund unconstitutional for encroaching into Congress’ exclusive power of the purse, among others.

 Getting personal?

The decision was unanimous among 13 judges who took part in the vote (one magistrate inhibited from the voting).

“We are wondering why he is saying it’s getting personal. But 13-0, is that personal? That’s all the justices. And we are talking about the Constitution. We have one law, one country. Maybe it’s better that we help each other out,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said they will not wear “that sad color,” in apparent reference to yellow, a color Aquino himself had appealed on the public to display in support of the administration.

Guerrero said court employees’ groups had no consultation with the justices, as in previous similar actions, but expressed confidence that it won’t be an issue.

The groups also oppose moves to take a second look at the JDF, as was recently proposed in Congress. He said court employees get less than P2,000 a month through the JDF, and that a certain percentage of the fund goes to the rehabilitation of court houses.

He said court employees will stage a similar action on July 28, when President Aquino delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona). Tarra Quismundo

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