Former Duterte chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday claimed that some Supreme Court justices aspiring for the chief justice post may be hesitant to rule on politically charged cases because they do not want to displease the appointing power, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Alam mo ang problema kasi dyan, marami gusto maging Chief Justice (among the current SC justices). Kaya ang iba dyan, hindi makagalaw. Ayaw nila syempre ma-disappoint the powers that be. Kaya yan ang magiging problema,” Panelo said.
Panelo made the statement during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
Panelo was asked whether the SC might delay ruling on politically charged cases until a new chief justice is appointed because incumbent Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is due to retire in November.
He was also asked whether the SC would timely act on Vice President Sara Duterte’s urgent motion asking the tribunal to rule on her plea for a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction in relation to her grave threats case.
Panelo said the SC would eventually rule on Duterte’s petition but could not say when.
“It will rule. But whether or not it will rule now or a few weeks from now or forever pending in its court, hindi natin alam yan,” he said.
Panelo cited SC’s slow action on some cases, including the habeas corpus petition filed by the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his transfer to The Hague.
“Even the history, mawalang galang sa SC, parang by the time nagru-rule kayo moot and academic na. Habeas Corpus nga namin, isang taon na, nandiyan pa rin,” Panelo said.
He acknowledged, however, that the SC can act quickly when it wants to by citing its action on the impeachment issue.
“But having said that, although yun na nga ang SC mabagal, pero kung gusto nakaka-resolve. Kagaya sa impeachment, di ba? Ang bilis, din-declare nila unconstitutional,” Panelo said.
“So we’re just hoping na sana aksyonan na nila (ang petition/motion ni VP Sara),” he added.
Panelo questioned why justices would hesitate to decide the cases, saying the delay could create doubts among the public.
“I cannot even understand why they are afraid or if they are not afraid, why are you delayed?” he said.
“Parang dating kasi sa taong bayan, bakit ba hindi kayo maka-decide? Kadali lang naman ang decision dyan,’ Panelo added.#