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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The student governments of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law and the Ateneo de Manila Law School threw their support behind the Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring certain acts of the government’s spending program unconstitutional.
In a statement, the UP Law Student Government (UP LSG) defended the Supreme Court’s ruling and criticized Aquino’s speech.
“The UP LSG condemns the President’s implied threat of a constitutional crisis in the event that Supreme Court does not reconsider its decision. This is an act which contravenes the doctrine of separation of powers and stands in utter disrespect of the Court,” the statement, released Sunday, July 27, read.
The group added it cannot tolerate “any act in contravention of the highest law of the land, regardless of the status of the individuals propagating it or the rectitude of their intention.”
The group said allowing Aquino and the executive branch to “get away with DAP” undermines the authority of the judiciary.
DAP defense
On July 1, the High Court ruled that 3 schemes of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) violated the Constitution.
In response, President Benigno Aquino III delivered a national address defending the program, saying it has benefited the Philippines’ economic growth and was implemented “in good faith.”
He told the justices, “We do not want two equal branches of government to go head to head, needing a third branch to step in to intervene. We find it difficult to understand your decision.”
Threat?
Critics hit Aquino for what they call was a veiled threat to the High Court.
The Ateneo Law School Student Council (ALS SC) in a statement issued on July 19 said President Aquino’s defense of the DAP and criticism of the Supreme Court “blantantly disrespects the fundamental principle of co-equality between and among the three great branches.”
The student council hit Aquino’s claim that the DAP was implemented in good faith, and added that it, in legal parlance, “can never be a valid defense for violating the Constitution.”
The UP LSG also hit Aquino’s good faith defense.
“No one is above the Constitution, most especially the President himself. To allow the President and the Executive branch to get away with the DAP sets a dangerous precedent…The institutionalization of practices clearly against the law can never be rationalized by good intentions,” it added.
“In the words of Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, ‘No one branch of government has a monopoly on good intentions.'”
On Tuesday, July 22, youth groups filed the second impeachment complaint against Aquino over the DAP. – Rappler.com
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