‘Lacson should prove charges vs 2 SC justices’

Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson should prove his claim that two justices of the Supreme Court frequented the building owned by the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, insinuating that the two justices could be party to supposedly anomalous dealings there, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said over the weekend.

Davide said that while Lacson did not identify the two justices, his statement came out "maliciously" because it was part of Lacson’s privileged speech on the controversial Jose Pidal accounts.

"(Lacson) has to present proof on that if, indeed, it was true," he told reporters in a chance interview.

Davide said he wanted to respond soon after Lacson made the accusation but he was out of the country when Lacson claimed two SC justices were among the people who allegedly frequented the LTA building along Perea street in Makati City.

Davide has been saying that any attack against the justices undermines the SC as an institution and as the last bulwark of Philippine democracy.

These criticism, he said, should have basis and not be made just to destroy the judiciary’s image.

The Chief Justice said the high court remains resolute amid controversies, particularly the impeachment complaint filed against him and seven other justices before the House of Representatives — a complaint he described as baseless.

"We should remain unfazed, undisturbed, unperturbed, because, otherwise, we will also contribute to the downfall of the institution," Davide said.

The impeachment complaint against the SC justices is still at the committee level of the House, he said, and "the (House) committee should have the collective wisdom on what to do."

"Although, from the very beginning, we really felt, and we continue to feel and believe, that the impeachment has no basis," he said.

But Davide said whatever action will be taken on the impeachment complaint is the prerogative of the House and the judiciary cannot interfere. "That is part of the respect for the separation of powers," he said.

Deposed President Joseph Estrada filed the impeachment complaint against Davide and SC Associate Justices Artemio Panganiban, Josue Bellosillo, Reynato Puno, Jose Vitug, Leonardo Quisumbing, Antonio Carpio and Renato Corona.

Estrada said the justices conspired to oust him and install then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as president.

The complaint, however, has yet to be decided upon by the House committee on justice.