MANILA, Philippines—Malacanang on Saturday said court employees were free to wear black and red in protest of President Benigno Aquino III’s defiance of the Supreme Court decision declaring the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“They are free to do these actions [like] wearing those colors and what they call a silent protest,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte over government Radyo ng Bayan.
Valte emphasized that the government recognized the Supreme Court decision, as shown in the steps that it had taken.
“It’s very clear that we are following the processes as mandated by the Constitution and our laws because we filed a motion for reconsideration,” she said.
“So whatever our position is on the Supreme Court decision on the DAP, we are raising points in the manner that is provided by law, and that is through the filing of a motion for reconsideration,” she said.
As for reports that there would be more protests during President Aquino’s July 28 State of the Nation Address (Sona), Valte said the public was free to express its opinion on the DAP issue.
“That’s what the government wants to make clear,” she said in Filipino.
In a televised address last Monday, Mr. Aquino said he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling on the DAP and warned the high court that in a clash between the executive and judicial branches of government, the third branch, the legislature, may need to step in.
SC’s pork barrel
Administration allies in the House of Representatives soon started moves to reexamine the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF), which they called the Supreme Court’s pork barrel. The JDF is a special allocation created from the proceeds of the court and docket fees collected by the courts—authorized by Presidential Decree 1949 issued by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos—for use in augmenting personnel allowances, maintenance and acquisition funds of the judiciary.
Court employees said they would wear black and red on Monday as part of their silent protest against Mr. Aquino’s stance on the high tribunal’s DAP ruling.
A similar action will be staged on July 28 when the President delivers his fifth Sona, said Joel Guerrero, president of the Supreme Court Employees Association. The protest action is expected to go nationwide.
Guerrero said the court employees’ groups also oppose the House move to scrap the JDF.
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