SC mum as solons rant about JDF as last living pork barrel
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court apparently does not want to get dragged into a war with its co-equal branch of government, Congress.
The high court held its silence on Thursday’s budget hearing in the House of Representatives, as it refused to make a reaction to the lawmakers’ criticisms to its Judiciary Development Funds (JDF), which they call the court’s “pork barrel.”
On behalf of the Supreme Court, deputy court administrator Raul Villanueva said they do not want to comment on the JDF as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno wrote a letter to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte begging off to attend the lower chamber’s hearing over the JDF.
In the letter, Sereno said they would not participate in the chamber’s hearings over the bills amending or abolishing the JDF pending the motions for reconsideration about the high court’s DAP decision.
Sereno said the hearings of the JDF came at the heels of their decisions on President Aquino’s economic stimulus package Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), under which a practice of using savings is allowed for lawmakers. She had earlier questioned the “timing” of the chamber’s supposed hearing over their JDF.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said the JDF seemed to be the last remaining “pork barrel” funds, after the Supreme Court itself struck down the congressional pork Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) and Aquino’s DAP.
He then asked Villanueva if he would agree that the JDF is the last surviving pork barrel.
“It’s always stated that the JDF is the last bastion of pork in the bureaucracy because we had removed the PDAF and DAP but what remains is the JDF. Would the good administrator agree that the JDF is the last remaining pork barrel in the bureaucracy today?” Ridon asked.
“In response to that, I beg your indulgence, our CJ already wrote a letter to the Speaker pertaining to the matter so I hope you won’t mind that I cannot comment already on the matter,” Villanueva said.
The court official said they are wary of “legal issues” when the court issued a statement regarding the JDF.
For his part, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, who authored the bill amending the JDF, said the Chief Justice seems to exercise too much power when it was granted to have “sole exclusive discretion” over the fund.
“Hindi lang sole, exclusive pa… Lalong tumayo ang balahibo ko. Napakalakas ata ng power ng Supreme Court,” Farinas said.
Villanueva told the lawmaker that the SC is only exercising its “fiscal autonomy that “with all due respect, the court is trying to uphold.”
The court administrator also begged off when asked by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio for his reaction on President Aquino’s statement criticizing the high court for checking too much on the two co-equal branches of government.
When asked by Tinio for his reaction on President saying the SC seemed to be causing the imbalance of power among the three branches, Villanueva said: “The Constitution has provided all powers and authorities of each branch and I don’t see any reason one would come up with the conclusion otherwise.”
Marikina Rep. Romero “Miro” Quimbo made the closing remarks on the discussion over the SC’s JDF, making an appeal to the high court to accept the chamber’s criticisms as a co-equal branch of government.
He noted that never in his experience, “I have never seen the strongest SC.”
Quimbo also said he hoped the SC would soon participate in chamber’s hearings over JDF as otherwise “it will bring more doubt and will not make a conclusion to the conflict taking place.”
“I hope we cannot be onion-skinned when it comes to criticisms…. Do not cower from it because if you do so, it will bring more doubt…” Quimbo said.
The SC is in hot water in the eyes of the Executive when the high court ruled as unconstitutional some practices under DAP.
Meantime, the SC is also at odds with Congress when the court scrapped the congressional pork barrel funds at the height of a corruption scandal.
Aquino has criticized the SC over its decision against DAP, warning of a “collision” between the executive and judiciary.
In a televised statement on Tuesday, Aquino complained that the judiciary seemed to be using its power to check and balance the executive and legislative branches “more often.”
“It’s like instead of exercising restraint, [the judiciary is using] this power more often,” he said.
“Now, as a result, the balance between the three branches appears to be gone,” Aquino added.
He also said in the same interview that he is open to a second term as well as to amend the Constitution.
RELATED STORIES
