Escudero tells Sereno, justices: No one is above the law, explain JDF

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Senator Chiz Escudero. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Saying no one is above the law, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday urged the justices to explain the issues surrounding the Judicial Development Fund (JDF).

Escudero issued the call amid reports that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno may face an impeachment complaint over the alleged misuse of the JDF.

“Hindi ko maikakaila na parang napakasama ng timing at talagang mukhang resbak ‘yan lalo na ‘yung imbestigasyon sa JDF,” he said during the weekly “Kapihan sa Senado,” reacting to reports that administration allies in the House of Representatives are keen on filing the complaint against Sereno.

(I can’t deny that the timing is very suspicious and it really looks like an attempt to get back especially the investigation on the JDF.)

“Pero kung may issue talaga dapat ipaliwanag, maski na mukhang resbak ‘yan, maski na mukhang pagganti so dapat ipaliwanag dahil wala naman sigurong pwedeng sabihing above the law ika nga.”

(But if there’s really an issue, it must be explained even if it looks like retaliation so it should be explained because no one is above the law)

“The issues and the principles of accountability and transparency apply to all even to the Supreme Court, even to the Chief Justice as it does with the President and all of us,” he pointed out.

Despite the seeming clash among the three branches of government—the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, Escudero remained confident that the institutions are “strong enough” to withstand any issue that would come along their way.

He pointed out how the institutions survived when Congress impeached in 2012 then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“I think our institutions are strong enough to withstand this type of noises and this type of issues notwithstanding the fact na nagbabanggan na ang mga institution,” he said.

The senator though preferred a peaceful resolution to the issues confronting each branch of the government.

“Hindi ba magandang mapayapa, masaya , maliwanag at maaliwalas ang buhay? Bakit ba kelangang palaging may gulo at away. Hindi ko maintindihan ‘yun,” Escudero said.

(Isn’t it better if our lives were peaceful, happy, sunny, and pleasant? Why should there be conflict and fighting all the time? I can’t understand that.)