Drilon doesn’t mind if impeach rap vs justice will worsen SC-Palace rift

MANILA, Philippines—If the impeachment move against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario del Castillo would further widen the rift between Malacañang and the Supreme Court, then so be it, Senator Franklin Drilon said on Thursday.

But Drilon, a staunch ally of President Benigno Aquino, strongly denied that Malacañang or the Liberal Party was behind the renewed impeachment bid against del Castillo.

“Yung pag-impeach po sa isang mahistrado ng Korte Suprema ay sang-ayon sa kapangyarihan ng Kamara sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas (The impeachment of a Supreme Court magistrate is based on the power of Congress as enshrined in the Constitution),” he told reporters.

The decision of the high tribunal to dismiss the case against del Castillo for plagiarism, Drilon said, was not binding on the House of Representatives, which he said has the sole prerogative of “passing judgment on the impeachability of the constitutional officials.”

“Whether it worsens the relations or not, to me, is beside the point. What’s important is that this is a process allowed under our Constitution,” said the senator.

“If it worsens the relationship, so be it. Wala po tayong magagawa kung dahilan dito ay magwo-worsen ang relasyon ng Supreme Court at Palasyo. Sa akin, ito’y isang bagay nakalagay sa Saligang Batas (We can’t do anything if this would worsen the relationship between the Supreme Court and the Palace. For me, this is something that is stipulated in the Constitution),” he further said.