Category Archives: Supreme Court

November 9, 2011 · 05:41

Hostage to a metabolic bone biopsy

I don’t often write about “metabolic bone biopsies” on my blog. However, that’s the procedure former Philippine president Arroyo needs, and that’s what the Aquino administration Justice Department is seeking to deny her. Or so Arroyo claims. Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima issued a watchlist order against Arroyo to prevent her and her husband from fleeing the country while facing plunder and poll fraud charges. According to PhilStar, Arroyo has challenged the WLO as impairing her constitutional right to travel (Article III, § 1 and 6) and filed suit before the Supreme Court. It will be particularly interesting to see how the Supreme Court rules, given the hostility between it and the Aquino administration. Moreover, 12 of the 15 justices are Arroyo appointees, which as I wrote last year became controversial as Arroyo managed to appoint the chief justice. I guess we’ll see whether the Philippine Supreme Court provides that political insurance Arroyo had been banking on.

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Filed under Aquino, Arroyo, Philippines, Supreme Court

October 16, 2011 · 04:05

Time for marriage counseling

Harsh words were recently exchanged between between the Philippine Supreme Court and Malacanang over the Aquino administration’s plan to “reduce” the judiciary’s budget (see my most recent post on the controversy here). The Philippine Judges Association has come out yesterday to express their support for Chief Justice Corona. For his part, the chief justice said, “There is no intense quarrel happening. I’m just setting things straight.” Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone has urged both parties to convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) in order to work through their differences. It’s not yet clear whether most of this debate is hollow posturing or whether the animosity could actually affect the Court’s work. Stay tuned…

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Filed under Aquino, Philippines, Supreme Court

October 11, 2011 · 23:01

Now the Philippine Supreme Court is "our only hope"…

Marites Danguilan Vitug has another book out about the Philippine Supreme Court, this time about some of the court’s most progressive and hopeful cases. Asia Sentinel has a review here. I haven’t read the book yet, but have placed my order. I’ll be sure to report on it once I finish.*

* Incidentally, my book review of Vitug’s Shadow of Doubt has been accepted for publication, but the journal hasn’t published it yet, so I can’t share it until they do.

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October 1, 2011 · 17:17

Long wait for Marcos

PhilStar has an interesting article about the long delay in resolving the graft cases against Marcos. Some of the cases still haven’t been resolved after all these years. The Supreme Court seems to take even longer to resolve cases appealed from the Sandiganbayan, taking an average of six years and sometimes as long as 21. For more details click here.

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Filed under Philippines, Supreme Court

September 30, 2011 · 15:01

More Money Madness

The Philippine Supreme Court and Aquino administration are at odds again, this time over money. First, the administration cut the judiciary’s proposed budget in half, from P 27.1 billion to P 14.65 billion. Now, according to PhilStar, the administration is seeking to set aside P 1.98 billion for a new Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF). The judiciary – through spokesman Marquez – has lambasted the shortchange as a violation of the constitution as the government cannot reduce the court’s budget. Allies of former president Arroyo, including Senator Joker Arroyo, have criticized the Aquino administration’s actions. It’s an unfortunate development in that now the judiciary seems to have to fight for its budget every year, which could drain the court’s resources and undermine the justices’ willingness to make difficult rulings.

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Filed under Philippines, Supreme Court