Joker slams Noy’s dictatorial tendencies
Former senator Joker Arroyo criticized yesterday what he described as President Aquino’s dictatorial tendencies for insisting on the legality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) in a televised national address last Monday.
Arroyo, who had consistently raised constitutional issues over the DAP since it was unwittingly exposed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada last year, lamented how the President has resorted to tyranny as he challenged the Supreme Court on its decision declaring the DAP illegal.
Apart from calling Aquino an “evil genius” for having implemented a devious scheme initiated by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad which involved more than P147 billion in DAP funds, Arroyo described Aquino’s style as “presidential autocracy.”
He said the President undermined not just the power of the Supreme Court but also the 1987 Constitution, which was approved during the term of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.
Arroyo also said Aquino’s action dismantles the balance of power between the three branches of government.
Head-on collision
Since the President addressed the controversy head on, Arroyo said the clash between the executive and the judiciary has become inevitable.
“The President does not question that power of the Supreme Court, but questions the justices’ collective capacity and integrity to exercise that power,” he said. “What cannot be overlooked is that when the President speaks, he makes a policy statement.”
He also noted how the administration has tried to pressure the Supreme Court into bending its decision in favor of the government, including attempts to curtail the tribunal’s fiscal autonomy.
State of war
Judging by the way Aquino has addressed the DAP controversy, Arroyo said the President has practically declared a state of war with the Supreme Court.
“What if the Supreme Court does not reconsider its 13-0 unanimous decision on the DAP? What will the President do? That is the overriding question. After all, he had practically declared a state of war with the high court in a conflict of high and emotional drama beamed nationwide,” Arroyo said.
Sen. Grace Poe, for her part, stressed that the Constitution should be followed at all times.
Impeachment
The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is set to file an impeachment complaint against President Aquino today.
The group said the President’s removal from office is urgent and necessary.
“From what we saw, it is clear that Aquino not only violated the Constitution, he has no intention of upholding it. He sees himself as being above the law. He sees himself as beyond public scrutiny,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes.
“It is our duty then to ensure that he is booted out of office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. His mad rampage must end. We call on the people to support all efforts to hold Aquino and his minions accountable for the presidential pork barrel scam,” he said.
Bayan noted the grounds for impeachment that will be filed today are culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, both in relation to Aquino’s implementation and defense of DAP.
Meanwhile, women’s group Gabriela said there was nothing new in Aquino’s speech, and “all were lies and lame justifications of DAP.”
The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also believes Aquino and his cohorts should be held liable for realigning funds for programs not covered by regular appropriation.
Disrespecting Cory’s legacy
For United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary-general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, President Aquino is disrespecting his mother’s legacy of upholding the independence of the Supreme Court (SC) as a coequal branch of the executive department.
Tiangco said that as president of the Republic, Aquino has a sworn duty to protect and uphold the Constitution, which is his mother’s legacy to the people and nation.
Tiangco said the UNA is saddened that the Supreme Court was openly disgraced and insulted because of its decision to rule on the unconstitutionality of the DAP.