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The Supreme Court has ruled, 9-6 in favor of Neri, he is allowed to invoke Executive Privilege. We, the people, have lost our right to know what is happening in our government. The Senate is no longer a co-equal body. And we are fast becoming a nation under a dictatorship.

Of course, Arroyo was happy,

“We respect the decision of the Supreme Court,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

“We hope that that, looking forward, the Senate and the executive can work out mutually acceptable rules on appearances in Senate inquiries in aid of legislation, which will guarantee the rights of resource persons and parties affected by congressional hearings, as stipulated by the Constitution,” he said.

Acceptable rules? For liars and criminals, you mean? Give me a break. Executive Privilege for what? If only small time criminals had such a power, we’d never have any convictions around here. And that is exactly what is happening right now with our own criminal in Malacañang. Free to roam and prostitute the land.

DJB says it all, and rightly so,

I cannot imagine a more compleat and disastrous demolition of the Separtion of Powers and a curtailment of the Public’s Very Right to Know what their government is doing than this 9-6 decision of the Supreme Court. We are now under an effective Dictatorship of Judicial and Executive Privilege in which the principle of Checks and Balances is no more. The cuckolding of the Congress which begun in 2001 has once again been affirmed and practiced by Unelected Judges appointed by an illegitimate chief executive.

Exactly DJB, exactly. Checks and Balance, no more. With Congress, The Judicial system, The Department of Justice, and the entire Executive Branch, Arroyo has all the firepower she needs to run this country without limits. The Senate has an uphill battle.

THE MOUNT BALATUCAN MONITOR reports how the judges voted,

Concurring:

* Teresita de Castro
* Renato Corona
* Minita Chico-Nazario
* Presbitero Velasco
* Antonio Nachura
* Dante Tinga
* Arturo Brion
* Leonardo Quisumbing
* Ruben Reyes.

Dissenting:

* Chief Justice Reynato Puno
* Antonio Carpio
* Adolfo Azcuna
* Conchita Carpio-Morales
* Alicia Martinez
* Consuelo Ynares-Santiago.

Take note, that Brion is new Yes man for The Palace. The Senate must be disappointed that Brion’s first test to prove his independence failed miserably. Did they actually think the man would vote otherwise?

And obviously, The Magdalo group is probably disappointed,

Upholding the President on this case would be a landmark decision for misinterpretation of the Constitution which in turn leads democracy on its way to the grave.

Democracy dies a little every time the truth, or even a lie, is denied the public or the Senate which it uses for enacting remedial legislation.

As it is the President is vested with awesome powers by the Constitution. These powers have been wantonly abused.

Is it the desire of the Supreme Court to uphold executive privilege in the Neri case and encourage her all the more to abuse those powers in violation of the Constitution?

The answer to the question is in the hearts and minds of the members of the Supreme Court.

Is it the sentiment of the Court to grant more powers that the President can abuse?

Reduced to that point, the issue becomes much simpler to resolve. The Constitution must be defended by the Court even at the cost of denying the President the power she can use to hide the truth or cover a crime.

I’m sorry to say folks, but the truth is being hidden, and the 9 judges who voted is all too happy to have it hidden.

And may I add, Kiko isn’t all too happy about it either,

We respectfully disagree with the SC ruling and we will file a motion for reconsideration. In the meantime, I will move that Neri be subpoenaed and that I intend to ask him other questions on the alleged involvement of PGMA in the ZTE NBN transaction. If he refuses to speak up without justifiable grounds I will move that he be cited in contempt of the senate and detained. We will not allow this legal setback to prevent us from seeking the truth.

This legal setback is temporary and we intend to correct and remedy the situation by legally asserting our prerogatives as a co equal. As a co equal to the Judiciary and the Supreme Court, the Senate will not allow interference in purely legislative matters by other branches of government and we will assert our constitutional status as a co equal. We disagree with the SC decision and consistent with the constitution and the rule of law we will act accordingly to assert our position as we seek the truth behind the ZTE NBN deal. It’s very simple and it’s most unfortunate that the majority in the SC didn’t see it in that way; that the people deserve to know whether or not the president acted unlawfully after having been informed that the ZTE NBN deal then under negotiations was tainted with unlawful and illegal acts. I don’t see how executive privilege can be allowed under these circumstances.

I don’t know what KIKO is talking about when he says a legal setback. I’m sorry Mr. Senator, you had your chance a while back. This is not a setback, the motion for reconsideration will be denied. And a legislative loophole must be implemented so as to keep this yes-men in The High Court from making a mockery of our democracy. As of now, this is a point for Gloria. But mind you, she now has to answer the question that if she is all for the truth, then why invoke Executive Privilege at all.

And now, the ball also goes to The Church. The Court has made its decision, will they? Will they finally make the defining statement calling for Gloria’s resignation. Calling out this illegitimate dictator for what she truly is? Or will they sit idly by, collect their money, and have even more of their faithful lose hope in the institution of the church?

With so many lost battles, can the opposition keep moving ahead? Will The Spratlys issue be yet another devastating defeat, and will Gloria laugh herself to sleep once more, knowing in the back of her mind, that her Philippines is all under control.

And lastly, back to The Balutacan Mirror who conveys the previous sentiment of “all under control”,

It seems all the bases are loaded and all the holes are plugged. You cant run to the military for patriotism, they are taken care of. You cant run to the Bishops, who are more vocal in their support for the administration, they are likewise taken care of. You cant run to local and congressional leaders, they are taken care of a long time ago. You cant rely on the government institutions, they have become instruments of suppression and oppression. Now this latest development, you can now question whether the Supreme Court is still not afflicted with the virus that has contaminated every institutions in our society. According to Justice Davide, the Supreme Court is the last bulwark of democracy. Logically, it’s the last to fall.

Solita Monsod justified her stand in not calling GMA resignation because unlike in the Marcos regime, the institutions are still working. Well, I hope the lady is taking note of the recent developments. It looks like we are heading into a systems malfunction just like in the Marcos years. I hope she is not wrong.

tags: nbn deal, philippine supreme court