Groups to start protest actions vs chief justice appointment

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers and law students from various legal groups will launch today a series of protest actions in a bid to pressure President Arroyo against appointing the next chief justice.

Various groups led by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP) will converge in front of the Supreme Court in Manila to show their protest against the possible appointment of the next chief justice by Mrs. Arroyo and “defend the integrity and independence of the judiciary.”

Charlotte Silungan of the ALSP said a short program would kick off the march at 9:30 a.m. along Ma. Orosa Street before proceeding to Padre Faura passing by the SC building and then concluding their program in UP Manila.

“We will stand our ground in defending the integrity and independence of the judiciary in view of the impending retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno and the desire of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice with or without the list of nominees from the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) and even within the midnight appointments ban under Section 15, Article VII of the Constitution,” Silungan said.

Silungan said the protest action would be staged to remind the public of the impending retirement of Puno on May 17 and the legal issue surrounding the appointment of his successor.

The groups pointed out the constitutional prohibition on appointments by the President during the remaining months of her term of office.

The protest actions would coincide with the meeting of the JBC after a two-week break.

Various petitions have been submitted to the SC seeking either to allow or prevent Mrs. Arroyo from appointing the next chief justice.

The JBC has opted to await ruling on the consolidated petitions before deciding to submit the shortlist of final nominees to Malacañang. – Edu Punay