On signing the committee report, Manny Villar, and the C5 controversy

We signed the committee report of the Committee of the Whole in keeping with the official Liberal Party stand, decided yesterday, that at the very least the report ought to be presented in plenary regardless of whether we are for or against the findings.

I believe it is a reasonable proposition. Pure and simple. We did not endorse the findings in the report, and I may even opt to vote against it, take no part, or seek amendments should I disagree with its findings after it is presented.

Manny Villar's camp should know by now that I am not his or anyone's puppet and that I will not allow myself to be used by anyone for or against an issue. In fact, I am NOT the issue in the C5 controversy. Senator Villar is the issue. I am not running for public office in 2010, HE IS.

They can attack me all they want but it would be best that they focus their efforts instead on explaining to the voters their side on the C5 controversy.

Who are they to lecture us?

Senator Noynoy Aquino said that if he is elected he will not recognize an illegal appointment. We fully support his position. There is nothing presumptuous about this and he is certainly not ill-advised.

Senator Aquino believes that a President should never tolerate illegal or unconstitutional edicts. How we wish we could say the same for the present occupant in Malacañang.

All that Senator Aquino did was to say what a President ought to do should he be faced with an unconstitutional act. Obviously, Malacañang cannot understand this because for quite some time now it has miserably failed to perform its constitutional duty, which is to uphold and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.

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Now, however, GMA's allies are criticizing Senator Aquino's statements on the Chief Justice appointment, and they themselves are citing respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. Look who's talking. With the NBN-ZTE scandal, payola, and fertilizer scams hounding Malacañang (among many others), who are they to lecture us about respect for our courts, our Constitution, and the rule of law?

An appointment of doubtful legality will harm the image and reputation of the Supreme Court; let the next President appoint the new Chief Justice

We call on the Arroyo administration to shield the Supreme Court from scandal and controversy by not appointing the next Chief Justice. It will be a black eye for the Supreme Court if the appointment of the next Chief Justice is shrouded with questions of legality and constitutionality. A questionable appointment will tarnish the image and reputation of the Supreme Court. We urge President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to steer clear of this controversial path by allowing the next President to appoint a new Chief Justice when Chief Justice Puno retires in May.

Villar and Gordon shouldn't claim to know more than the voters

The presidentiables attacking Noynoy are missing the point entirely. They are misreading the public pulse. They claim to know better than the voters who are now demanding integrity and honesty in government. Voters want an incorruptible President; track record is no longer enough.

They who hit Noynoy for his alleged lack of experience are making a mistake by claiming they know more than voters. Voters are no longer dumb or blind to the empty promises and the rhetoric of politics. Voters today are more intelligent and more discerning. After being repeatedly betrayed by the trapos, they now know what they want and that is inspiration and integrity rather than merely experience.

GMA had the experience. She was former DTI Undersecretary, Senator, Vice President... yet where are we headed today? People know that experience per se has not changed out nation for the better.

The issue in 2010 is not about experience. It is about TRUST. We believe that people want change to take place and want to be able to trust their President not to abuse and enrich himself in office. It is Noynoy who has the track record for honesty and integrity in government. Who among the presidentiables can be trusted to ensure honesty in government? Who among them can inspire our people to go out and be involved in 2010 and beyond for real change?

Now, more than ever, people want honesty and integrity in their President. Noynoy will give them that and, together with a people committed to change, usher in a new direction for our nation.

JBC should refuse to be made a tool for the violation of the Constitution

In order to prevent Malacañang from making a midnight appointment for the post of Chief Justice to the Supreme Court, all the JBC has to do is refuse to submit a shortlist to Malacañang. By doing this, Malacañang will have no basis to issue an appointment, as a shortlist prepared by the JBC is a constitutional requirement for a valid appointment to the Judiciary.

The JBC should refuse to be made a tool for the violation of the constitutional ban on midnight appointments spelled out in Section 15 Article 7 of the Constitution. We urge the JBC to maintain its independence as a constitutional office. Let the next President make the appointment.

Malacañang's plan to appoint a new Chief Justice is contrary to the Constitution

We have been informed by our sources in the judiciary that Malacañang wants to appoint a new Chief Justice to replace Chief Justice Puno, who retires on May 17, 2010 when he turns 70 years old.

The Constitution prohibits appointments two months before the May 10 election. The vacancy has yet to occur after the May 10 elections, therefore, the power to appoint the new Chief Justice should be left to the next President.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is prohibited by no less than the Constitution to appoint the next Chief Justice. Article VII Section 15 of the Constitution states that two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.

We call on the JBC to resist any effort by Malacañang to have it fast-track the nomination process. The JBC must assert its independence by ignoring the Malacañang request to begin the nomination process for the vacancy for the post of Chief Justice. Both the Constitution and delicadeza dictate that PGMA leave the choice to the incoming Chief Executive considering that the retirement of CJ Puno happens after the May 2010 elections.

The Con-con Bill is just a waste of time and resources

Now the President is pushing for a constitutional convention (Con-con). According to news reports, she is "considering putting it on the agenda in a proposed special session to ensure its passage."

They are just wasting their time. The Senate will not agree to Charter Change initiated by the Arroyo administration. They won't find any Malacanang lapdogs in the Senate who are willing to jump and bark just to please the masters by the Pasig River.

With elections just a few months away, now is not the time--and, more significantly, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not the leader we can trust to push for Charter Change.

The Arroyo administration, now on its way out the door, cannot be trusted to amend the Constitution with the nation's interest in mind.

Sarili lang nilang interes at kapakanan ang isinusulong nila sa mungkahing ito. Walang mapapalang mabuti ang mga mamamayan sa walang kwentang Cha-Cha ni Gloria.

Ang pagbibigay ng VIP treatment sa mga akusado ay iligal

Ang pagbibigay ng VIP treatment sa sinumang nasasakdal ay labag sa ating mga batas, partikular ang Equal Protection Clause ng Saligang Batas.

Dapat patas ang trato ng PNP sa lahat ng mga akusado. Lalo lamang mawawalan ng tiwala ang taumbayan sa sistema ng katarungan sa ating bansa at lalo lamang lalala ang hinala na pumapabor si Pangulong Arroyo sa mga kaalyado nito tulad ng mga Ampatuan. Masama ang epekto nito sa pagpapalakad ng sistema ng katarungan sa ating bansa.