CONSTITUTIONALIST Fr. Joaquin Bernas yesterday said the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over petitions involving cases with grave abuse of discretion in any proceedings like the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Speaking before the Philippine Constitutional Assembly (Philconsa) oathtaking ceremony of new officers and members at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, Bernas noted that the 1987 Constitution gave the SC the power to interpret laws.
Bernas said even if the House of Representatives has the sole power to initiate an impeachment complaint and the Senate to try impeachment cases, there were instances in the past that the Court intervened to stop impeachment proceedings on the ground of grave abuse of discretion.
He cited the impeachment cases filed against former SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
The SC stopped the House of Representatives from filing a new impeachment complaint against Davide on the ground that the law prohibits the filing of two impeachment complaints within the same year.
In the case of Gutierrez, the Court initially issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the House from conducting proceedings on the impeachment complaint filed against her but eventually allowed it to proceed.
”We already saw in the Davide impeachment case and the Gutierrez impeachment case...The SC came in to resolve matters of interpretation of law on impeachment,” he said.
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : National | Views : 3
AN Islamic-friendly and culturally-sensitive curriculum for Muslim learners will be implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao this June. This was apart from the effort to continue to allot resources to further train Muslim teachers. The curriculum was launched recently in Lamitan City, Basilan. The event was attended by... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : National | Views : 4
By : Jun Pisco
ARREST warrants have been issued against Globe Asiatique (GA) owner Delfin Lee and his co-accused after a judge found probable cause for the syndicated estafa case filed against them, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said yesterday. Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said Judge Amifaith Fider-Reyes... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : National | Views : 4
By : Joel dela Torre
THE local garlic industry has been affected by the importation of the product from China, the Department of Agriculture said. According to Bureau of Plant Industry director Clarito Baron, garlic growers here are feeling the heat because of the low price of Chinas exports. “Isa yan sa dahilan... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : National | Views : 5
By : Jun Pisco
SIX Brunei peace monitors left for the Philippines to join the 8th International Monitoring Team (IMT) deployed in Cotabato City since May 17, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The Brunei contingent, composed of five members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and a member of the Royal Brunei... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : National | Views : 5
YOUTH joblessness is almost back at its peak following the outbreak of the global economic crisis and is unlikely to ease until at least 2016, the International Labour Organization warned Tuesday. The ILO said nearly 75 million youths or 12.7 percent of people aged 15 to 24 will be out... Read more
