President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER photo
WASHINGTON—President Benigno Aquino III discussed various issues on the home front as he wound up his US visit, including his belief that the Supreme Court was less hostile now to the executive branch than before, and that the long-stalled peace process with communist insurgents was still a go.
And he was open and transparent with both his audience and reporters, as though in keeping with his constant call for openness and transparency in governments.
In the question-and-answer portion at the World Bank-International Monetary Fund meeting here, the President said he felt that the Supreme Court, with which he had clashed over certain issues, was more cooperative now.
He said certain developments, such as the replacement of Merceditas Gutierrez with a new Ombudsman, appeared to have “sent a signal.”
“So what am I trying to say? I think there has been a change in attitude as far as the Supreme Court is concerned. They are now more like partners than they were before,” he said.
But he also expressed hope that the high court would decide fairly on Malacañang’s appeal that it reconsiders its restraining order on the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which had been planned for synchronization with the midterm polls in May 2013.
Vacuum at ARMM
Speaking with reporters over coffee in New York on Tuesday night, Mr. Aquino expressed worry that there would be a vacuum in the ARMM by September 30, when the terms of office of the incumbent officials expire.
“Obviously, nobody benefits in a vacuum. So we are awaiting guidance from [the Supreme Court] as to exactly who will take over by September 30,” he said.
Before the high court issued the restraining order on the ARMM elections’ postponement, the Palace was in the process of appointing the officers in charge of the region for the next two years.
Also on Tuesday night, the President told reporters that former military comptroller Carlos Garcia would stay at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City despite a call by Senator Panfilo Lacson for the latter to be held at a military facility instead.
Mr. Aquino said he was sticking to the advice of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that Garcia, who was convicted in 2005 by a court-martial of violating Articles of War, be detained in the civilian facility.
“I don’t see any reason why not,” he said, adding that the military court had sentenced Garcia to two years of hard labor but that there were “no facilities for hard labor under the military stockade system.”
He also said De Lima was his “best legal adviser on this matter.”
Peace process
The President also said he had met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stone, who offered suggestions on how peace talks between the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) could move forward.
Stone paid a courtesy call on Mr. Aquino during the second day of his four-day US visit.
Mr. Aquino said that during the meeting, he reiterated to Stone the Philippines’ sympathy for the tragedy in Norway in July, when over 90 people were killed in a bombing in Oslo and a gun attack in a youth camp outside the capital.
“We [also] thanked them for their consistency in helping us with the [peace] negotiations. They have performed the role of an honest facilitator consistently for quite a long time,” he said.
The peace talks are scheduled to resume in October. Mr. Aquino said Teresita Deles, his adviser on the peace process, and Alex Padilla, the government’s chief negotiator, were now heading to Utrecht in the Netherlands to submit the government’s counterproposals.
Asked whether Stone thought the talks would take off, Mr. Aquino said: “If I remember correctly, he did mention that they seem to see an eagerness in both parties to reach an agreement.”
Binay’s high ratings
Mr. Aquino also said he was glad about the high ratings of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“Good for him,” Mr. Aquino said of Binay’s 85-percent approval rating, as reported by Pulse Asia. (The President’s own approval rating is 77 percent.)
“He’s part of the team, so his higher ratings redound to the whole team also,” Mr. Aquino said, adding:
“I will have some concerns if he is presenting completely opposite views on various issues. But he has been very supportive.”