Second chance

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

04/17/2008

Ironic as it may seem, it is not the Filipinos nor the Senate but the Supreme Court that is being offered a second chance to right the wrong done to the system under which government operates, through its ruling on the Romulo Neri case, which directly concerns the abuse of presidential executive privilege.

Even if the high court magistrates do not admit it publicly, they certainly must have realized by now that they, through the earlier majority ruling now under a motion for reconsideration, have wrought serious damage not only to their institution and the entire judiciary, but also to their individual reputations as high court justices. Worse, they wrought destruction on the very essence of democracy that is based on the check and balance system which is essential in a democratic government.

There is the possibility that, with the SC aware of the grievous error as well as opening up extreme danger to the system made through that ruling and the public’s loss of esteem and even respect for the high court, a reversal that would at the very least bring back check and balance to the system, could be in the offing.

It has been observed that instead of the SC en banc dismissing the Senate’s motion for reconsideration (MR) outright, the high court called on Neri and gave him 10 days to reply to the Senate’s MR, then giving the Senate another 10 days to reply to Neri’s comment, all of which may take at least a month before a decision is made.

What this move by the SC may mean is that the Senate’s MR contained “new and compelling” arguments which cannot be ignored by the high court to bring about an immediate dismissal of the MR. It could also mean that the dissenting magistrates want more time to “persuade” the majority — or at least a couple of the justices in the majority — to see things the minority’s way.

But there also exists the possibility that despite new and strong arguments in the Senate’s MR, the majority — despite the dangers posed in the survival of democracy in this country, for the upholding of transparency and for the strengthening of the balance of power among the three branches of government — consisting of justices seen as puppets of Gloria Arroyo and her Malacañang, won’t budge an inch in changing their positions.

Still, that is the high court’s justices call. But they should not be blinded to the fact that a confluence of events which is beyond the control of Gloria and her administrators — and perhaps even the high court, has been building up, which can spell more trouble for the nation, enough to create a revolt that may see the Gloria government toppled, and along with it, the high court and its puppet justices.

The rice crisis exists, even if Gloria tries to stave this off with subsidized imported rice. Already, it is evident that the NFA rice which is really of very poor quality, is in short supply, even as Gloria and her agriculture secretary are making it appear that there is still enough cheap rice which will now sell only to the poor by taking out the NFA rice from the public markets that will now only sell the NFA commercial rice priced at some P25 a kilo. Ration cards for each poor family are also to be distributed, and that the poor can get as much rice as they want in one blow — but there is as yet to be a government announcement on the amount of rationed NFA rice to poor families per month. Ten kilos? That would not be enough to feed the family in a month.

With the pullout of the subsidized NFA rice in the markets, it is almost certain that even with the ration cards, the lines will still get longer as there would be less outlets.

What is not being considered by the Arroyo regime is the fact that the poor in this country have multiplied. Those who in the past could afford to buy the commercial rice, now have to buy the cheaper NFA variety. They too, will have to go for the cheaper rice, to make ends meet. Why deprive them of cheap rice then?

It is not only the rice problem that bugs the Filipinos. It is also the rise in food and oil prices that is causing a big hole in their pockets. There is too, the stoppage of the United Nations’ rice for school program which will impact on the poor in Mindanao.

It is being claimed by Malacañang and its aides that riots which have erupted in other Third World countries won’t ever happen here, because the country has no history of rioting.

That is hardly the gauge of what may come. There is always a first time, and a time when the people will have had it with the last strand of walis tingting breaking their backs.

And when they do because of a serious shortage of rice, coupled with high prices of food that will definitely fuel their anger, does the SC really believe that any ruling they make while authorities invoke the rule of law, will be heeded by a hungry mob?

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006