Sereno’s letter over JDF ‘inappropriate,’ deplores lawmaker

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 10 years ago

Representative Niel Tupas Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A lawmaker on Tuesday described the tone of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in her letter as “inappropriate” when she snubbed Tuesday’s hearing of the House of Representatives on the Judiciary Development Funds (JDF).

In a letter to the committee, Sereno said the “timing and context in which a Committee of the House is proposing to inquire into the JDF as indicated in its letter, is that they leave much to be desired, and at this point, do not seem to be fully cognizant of the kind of healthy relationship that should exist between, on the one hand, the House of Representatives and on the other, the Supreme Court.”

The House is conducting a hearing on the two bills seeking to either amend or repeal the law creating the JDF, long after the Supreme Court struck down Congress’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) as unconstitutional at the height of a corruption scandal.

When asked if he was offended, justice committee chair Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said Sereno’s tone was “inappropriate.”

“Parang the tone was inappropriate. We always impute good faith to the Supreme Court,” said Tupas, who authored the bill abolishing the JDF and creating another fund for the SC.

He said he remains confident that the Supreme Court would cooperate in the chamber’s hearing on the JDF.

Tupas said this is the first time in his four years as chairman that the SC did not even send a representative to attend the hearings over bills involving the high tribunal.

He said Sereno should have sent an authorized representative if she could not attend.

When asked for his reaction to Sereno’s questioning the timing of the committee’s hearing, Tupas said: “There is no better timing than now.”

“This is just a regular course of business of the House of Representatives,” said Tupas.

The JDF, long seen as the court’s “pork barrel” funds,” is sourced from the funds collected by courts nationwide from docket and other court fees.

Presidential Decree 1949, dated July 18, 1984, created the JDF “in order to preserve and enhance the independence of the judiciary at all times and safeguard the integrity of its members,” being the lone apolitical branch of government.

Under PD 1949, 80-percent of the JDF shall be used to augment the allowances of justices, judges, and court personnel; the remaining 20-percent for office equipment and facilities.

Sereno was a no-show in Tuesday’s hearing, citing the court’s “fiscal autonomy” and “judicial independence.”

Tupas called off Tuesday’s hearing to give courtesy to the Supreme Court, allowing sponsorship speeches instead.

He said he hopes the SC would send a representative in the next hearing to air its side.