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.