Chief Justice douses talk of quitting post over Neri case

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Thursday denied reports that he is frustrated with his job and will retire early due to perceptions of a not-so-independent Supreme Court. In a one-page statement, Puno said that he would not step down ahead of his May 17, 2010 mandate to satisfy those calling for his early retirement. "I am denying the rumors and speculations that I will retire from the position of Chief Justice before May 17, 2010, when I reach the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 70," he said. Last March 25, the high court voted 9-6 in ruling that the executive through former socioeconomic planning director general Romulo Neri correctly invoked the executive privilege in declining to answer three questions asked by the Senate in connection with its inquiry into the bribery-tainted NBN project. The three disputed questions were whether the President followed up the NBN-ZTE project with Neri; whether Neri was dictated to prioritize the NBN-ZTE project; and, whether the President told him to go ahead and approve the project after being told about the alleged bribe. Puno led the six dissenters, saying the presidential communications privilege cannot be used to personally benefit the Office of the President. Newsbreak online magazine earlier quoted sources stating that Puno was disappointed with the majority ruling that supposedly besmirched the independence of the high court that is now dominated by appointees of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. According to the report, Puno allegedly told his colleagues about the possibility of retiring early during supposed conversations with former Supreme Court justices, a Court insider, Senate President Manuel Villar and a lawyer close to him. If this pushes through, President Arroyo will get to appoint a new chief justice and associate justice, assuring her a full sweep of the Court until 2010. However, in his press statement, Puno said: "The Office of the Chief Justice is a trust given by the people, and I will fulfill the trust until the end of my term by continuing to discharge my duties with independence and fairness." The Chief Justice added that his appointment, also by Mrs Arroyo, last December 7, 2006 following the retirement of his predecessor Artemio Panganiban was "without any political condition." "I remain steadfast in my belief that the Supreme Court will continue to be the defender of the Rule of Law and the protector of our people’s rights," he said. In the past two weeks since the SC promulgated its ruling on the Neri case, rumors have been circulating among lawyers that Puno will retire early. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and retired SC Justice Vicente Mendoza did not believe talk that Puno would quit the top SC post. "Why will he do that? I hope it's not true. I don't think the Chief Justice would retire on such flimsy reason. I would be unhappy if it is true because that means he is pressuring his colleagues," said Gonzalez in a phone interview. "There is already a precedent because the Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion also took an early retirement because of the Court’s decision to uphold martial law," Gonzalez said. Mendoza, for his part, shared the views of Gonzalez. "If the reason is because of the SC decision on the Neri case where the Court is badly split, I don’t think it a good reason (to retire)," the former SC magistrate said, in a separate phone interview. According to him, the Neri case is not strictly a legal question that is pending before the Supreme Court. Mendoza added: "It involves public interest. It is not entirely a legal question because political questions also come in. I will make an exception to the subjudice rule because people have interest in it. Unlike in criminal case, you cannot lobby the SC to take a particular side." - GMANews.TV