Malacañang warns Aquino of impeachment
(philstar.com) Updated May 13, 2010 05:58 PM
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – A Palace spokesman said today Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is likely to face impeachment if he does not recognize President Arroyo’s newly appointed chief justice.
The country’s next president should “ensure that he follows the Constitution” because he would face impeachment if he does not, deputy presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo told a news briefing.
Saludo reiterated that the appointment of Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona as the country’s next chief justice was legal.
“Whoever is proclaimed (as president) by Congress will surely follow the Constitution because if not, we have to remember that violating the Constitution, to quote a lawyer, is an impeachable offense,” he said.
The chief justice is also the only official that is allowed to swear in the new president under the Constitution, Saludo said.
“In the civil service, an appointed person who refuses or fails to take his oath and this is a Supreme Court decision is considered not to have accepted the appointment. There are certain laws that we have to follow and the people just have to comply with them,” Saludo added.
Mrs. Arroyo yesterday appointed Corona to replace Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who will retire on May 17. The move has triggered objections from various groups especially over the timing of the appointment.
Mrs. Arroyo will end her term on June 30 and is likely to be succeeded by Aquino, who is headed toward a landslide victory in the May 10 elections.
Aquino has asked the President to “recognize the new government’s right to appoint the next chief justice.”
Asked whether Mrs. Arroyo will reconsider Corona’s appointment, as urged by her heir apparent and the Philippine Bar Association, Saludo said: “No, I don’t think she will.”
SOURCE: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=574886&publicationSubCategoryId=200
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