Noynoy defends Davide

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is standing by his decision to appoint former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. as head of the Truth Commission, despite strong objections from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

In a press briefing, the Chief Executive said he understood that Estrada might be uncomfortable with the appointment because Davide, as chief justice, had presided over the Senate impeachment court that tried the senator’s father, deposed President Joseph Estrada, in December 2000.

Last Tuesday, Senator Estrada reiterated his appeal to the President to reconsider his appointment of Davide, whom he described as one of the “hoodlums in robes” and a “man with questionable integrity.”

Estrada insisted that the reason for his disapproval of Davide is not personal.

“I have no doubt that President Aquino had nothing but the noblest motive in mind when he first thought of naming Mr. Davide to that position,” Estrada said. “Obviously, the President was acting in the honest belief that he was choosing an eminently qualified man for that all-important post.”

In previous speeches, Estrada recalled the alleged misuse of the Judiciary Development Fund during Davide’s term as chief justice.

The judiciary fund is a multi-billion peso fund derived from the collection of legal fees administered by the chief justice.

Estrada alleged that Davide used the fund to purchase luxury cars and expensive office equipment and facilities instead of allocating 80 percent of the fund for the cost of living allowance of members of the judiciary.

Prior to becoming a member of the Court in 1992, Davide was appointed by Mr. Aquino’s mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, to the Commission on Elections, which he headed eventually.

He also headed an independent body that investigated several coup attempts against the former Aquino administration in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“I believe Chief Justice Davide has done a lot to prove his ability to head the Truth Commission,” Mr. Aquino said.