Party-list row over in 5 days — Davide

DAVAO CITY – Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. has assured the nation that the Supreme Court will immediately act on petitions to prevent major political parties and "non-marginalized groups" from sitting in Congress as party-list groups.

"We already heard the petition of the party-list groups and we have given them five days to submit their memorandum," he said. "As soon as we receive it, the Supreme Court will act fast on it."

Davide told The STAR over the weekend the high tribunal will issue a ruling after the justices have thoroughly studied the petition of Bayan Muna and Akbayan seeking the disqualification of Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) and major political parties from the party-list election.

Davide was in Davao City over the weekend for the regional celebration of the Supreme Court centennial in Southern Mindanao.

Bayan Muna and Akbayan questioned before the tribunal the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision allowing MAD to take part in party-list elections despite Justice Secretary Hernando Perez’s declaration that public funds are used in its operation.

Of the 162 party-list groups accredited by the Comelec, 26 were big political parties, 58 sectoral parties, and 78 were non-government organizations.

The Constitution allows the participation in party-list elections of organizations representing various sectors of society, particularly the poor and "marginalized."

During the same forum, Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban said Davide wakes up at 3 a.m. and reports for work at the Supreme Court at 5 a.m.

"The Chief Justice wakes up at 3 a.m. everyday and promptly reads a chapter in the Holy Bible before getting some exercise by walking around their house, so that by 5:30, he is usually at the office already," he said.

Panganiban said judges find inspiration in Davide’s work ethic, as well as his integrity, humility, and dedication to duty and service to the people.

"We exalt him as the chief of the entire judiciary," he said. "But the important thing is we just do not praise the Chief Justice but we also have to follow him as a person of integrity."

Panganiban said the judiciary was proud of the way Davide, as presiding officer, handled the historical impeachment trial of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"We have an inspiration in him as an ideal judge," he said. "We felt so proud of him. We have all learned from him how to preside and to judge, how to conduct a trial with all the Filipino people watching."