Davide: SC will not yield to pressure from Erap camp

Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. maintained yesterday the Supreme Court will not yield to pressures from "forces with hidden agenda," stressing the institution will remain strong despite attacks from supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Davide made the remark as he thanked the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for its resolution expressing "unqualified, unflinching and unequivocal support to the Supreme Court."

It was the first resolution enacted by the IBP’s new president, Jose Anselmo Cadiz and its new board of governors, after they were sworn in by Davide at the Supreme Court building in Manila yesterday.

Lawyers of Estrada and his supporters have stepped up attacks against the Supreme Court, claiming the magistrates conspired to install President Arroyo into office in January 2001. Estrada is now facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan.

Estrada loyalists went on to stage mass protest actions before the Supreme Court building and the residences of each justice.

Davide said the Supreme Court magistrates even gained further strength and courage from attacks staged by Estrada loyalists.

The IBP said the Supreme Court is an institution "they are willing to die for."

In the same resolution, the IBP said the malicious attacks only undermines the country’s judicial system, "breed apathy and disillusionment in our society and unduly burden our nation already reeling from widespread poverty."

"The IBP urges and calls on those responsible to immediately cease and desist from making said unwarranted and malicious attacks against the Supreme Court," the resolution stated.

The IBP, the country’s biggest organization of lawyers, stressed it has the highest esteem for the justices and that the preservation of the dignity of the Supreme Court should be the utmost concern of each member of the Bar.

Davide replied and said the Supreme Court magistrates were "equally moved" by IBP’s condemnation.

Davide acknowledged the spontaneous declaration of support and confidence from other IBP chapters.

"Your manifesto of support comes at a time when the very independence and integrity of the Supreme Court and its members are subjected to malicious attacks from forces with hidden agenda which can only result in destroying the very institution that guarantees the existence and ascendancy of our democratic ideals through the rule of law," he said.

Davide stressed the support and trust given to the Supreme Court and its magistrates will continue to inspire them "beyond measure to further strengthen" their resolve to discharge their constitutional duties with utmost dedication.