ILOILO CITY — Senator Franklin M. Drilon on Friday expressed hope that the issue at the Supreme Court will be resolved immediately “before permanent damage is done to the institution”.
In a press conference here, Drilon admitted he has never seen the “kind of spectacle in my 50 years as a lawyer”.
“I am saddened by what is happening in the Supreme Court. And with what is happening today, people would lose respect for the judiciary,” he said.
He said the respect for the judiciary is significant for the “continued adherence and faith to our democratic system and rule of law”.
“If you entertain doubts about the administration of justice in the country then you start to doubt about the ability of our government to enforce the law, the courts to enforce the rule of law as the final arbiter of the Constitution,” he added.
He cited that there can be “differences” in an organization but the Supreme Court “is not an ordinary organization”.
“The faith of our people in our democracy rest on the confidence of our people on the ability of the Supreme Court to administer fairly this dispute,” he added.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has maintained that she would resign despite the agreement of Supreme Court magistrates that she should take an indefinite leave from her post.
The House Committee on Justice this week deliberated on the impeachment complaint against Sereno for culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. (PNA)
