Vidal, groups urge PNoy to respect SC

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said President Benigno Aquino III should respect the Supreme Court’s decision in the same way the Catholic Church respected the High Tribunal’s ruling on the l Reproductive Health Law.

Other Cebu officials and sectoral groups called on the president to do the same instead of contesting the court ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

“One has to respect the Supreme Court as interpreter of the laws. The president tried to justify the use of the funds (DAP). But you know in morals, the end does not justify the means. So if the end is good, that does not mean that the means are also good,” the 83-year-old prelate said in an interview.

“I do understand the pure and sincere intention of President Aquino in wanting to hasten the delivery of services through DAP. However, in a democratic sense, ours is a government of laws and not of men,” said lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter.

Higher cause

Lawyer Joan Largo, dean of the University of San Carlos’ College of Law, agreed saying it is enough for the president to explain his motives for implementing the DAP.

“(It’s enough that he) assured the people that the funds were plowed back to them and did not go to his pocket. But far more than the need to be right, there is a higher cause to be protected here—the respectability of our institutions so essential to the preservation of the rule of law,” Largo said.

In a televised speech last Monday, Aquino defended the DAP and vowed to appeal the SC’s 13-0 decision declaring parts of it unconstitutional.

Executive Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals Cebu Station said the SC’s decision on the DAP issue becomes final, in case the High Court will deny Aquino’s motion for reconsideration.

Motion

“We expect the Office of the President to move for reconsideration of the decision. It’s for the SC to resolve the motion for reconsideration. As to how the SC will resolve it, I will not dare to guess,” he said.

Under the rules, Ingles said a party is allowed to file only one motion for reconsideration from judgments or final orders.

However, he said there instances in the past when the High Court entertained a second motion for reconsideration.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Ramon Daomilas of RTC branch 11 said President Aquino should cut down on bureaucratic tape in accessing public funds instead of quarreling with the Supreme Court over the DAP.

Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa of Cebu City’s south district said President Aquino’s “good faith” use of the DAP won’t be derailed by the High Court’s decision.

As a lawmaker, Abellanosa said he will help offset the SC ruling by “promptly acting on the supplemental budget proposal of Malacañang.”

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he was dismayed over Mr. Aquino’s warning of a clash between the executive and judiciary due to the SC ruling on the DAP.

Rama said while the Palace spent millions of pesos to implement the DAP, he is unaware if Cebu City benefited from it.

Accordance

“How can I (support it) when there is no DAP in Cebu City?,” he said.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, a Liberal Party ally, said it is the Commission on Audit’s job to check if the funds are properly spent for the projects and is in accordance with the law.

Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano said the disagreements between Aquino and the Supreme Court is an indication that “democracy remains at work” in the country. “If not we will have dictatorship,” he said.

Cayetano said as long as President Aquino adheres to the rule of law, a constitutional crisis will never happen in the country.