‘We’re really cool,’ insists SC

Despite an impeachment complaint filed against them in Congress and a string of controversies regarding their decisions on business contracts, the Supreme Court justices are keeping their cool.

"We’re really cool, knowing that we have not done anything wrong. I think we’ll just wait and see," acting Chief Justice Josue Bellosillo told reporters.

Bellosillo said he is not in a position to determine whether the case filed against them by the lawyers of deposed President Joseph Estrada will prosper or not.

"It’s all up to them. We are not doing anything about it, we stay cool, and wait and see because we cannot anticipate what the congressman, the senators will do," Bellosillo said.

Justices Adolfo Azcuna, Leonardo Quisumbing, Jose Vitug, Antonio Carpio and Romeo Callejo Sr. all said they would rather not comment at this time and just leave the matter to Congress.

"Everything is normal at the SC and the justices are on vacation," Carpio said.

The justices attended the commemoration of the late Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion’s 100th birth anniversary. Embattled Justice Artemio Panganiban, in whose book the excerpts were taken as basis for the suit, was absent during the affair.

"We do our job, we do our duties as we normally do everyday," Callejo said.

"It’s not appropriate (to comment) at this time," Vitug said.

But with regard to the justices’ attendance at the inauguration of President Arroyo on Jan. 20, 2001, Quisumbing justified their presence.

"If you ask me, my personal opinion is, don’t justices have freedom? Freedom of conscience?" Quisumbing said.

"Bakit ano ba mali dun? Wala ba kayo dun (What’s wrong with that? Weren’t you there)?" he argued.

Quisumbing clarified that they never participated in partisan politics although the event — EDSA II — was political.

He said with the separation of powers of the branches of government, it is up to Congress to tackle the impeachment complaint.

"That doesn’t bother (us)," Quisumbing said, at the same time expressing doubt that he was part of the complaint filed by former senator Rene Saguisag and endorsed by three opposition congressmen.

Estrada in his complaint insisted that the justices deserve to be impeached for being party to a power grab, and that he had never stepped down from office.

The justices are also being put on the dock on allegations of "legal terrorism" and inconsistencies by the SC in deciding on government contracts with business groups.

One particular controversial decision was on the Philippine Air Terminals Co. contracts with the government, which the tribunal declared null and void due to several provisions detrimental to the public interest.

Publicist Dante Ang, in a recent speaking engagement, assailed the "terrorists in robes" saying they block efforts for economic reforms.

"I really have not studied the matter yet. They can call us any name, I don’t think it will affect us," Bellosillo said, adding that they were willing to sacrifice so long as the institution itself was not damaged.

"Well, we are independent-minded. you can be sure of that. We cannot be influenced, even if there are those who will attempt to influence us, we cannot be influenced, that’s a certainty," he said.

Bellosillo shrugged off criticism that the SC is interfering with economic policies of the government, saying they already issued decisions and that was it.

For his part, Azcuna said while there should be reforms in the judiciary and those unfit should be removed, it would have to be done with due process.