NYT slams Noy over 2nd term, clipping SC powers

MANILA, Philippines - The New York Times has cautioned President Aquino against seeking reelection purportedly to continue reforms and clip the powers of the judiciary, saying “he should stop butting heads with the court and gracefully step down when his term is up.”

In an editorial titled “Political Mischief in the Philippines” published online on Thursday, the New York Times said Aquino’s giving a hint at running in 2016 and limiting the powers of the judiciary through Charter change were “threats” that could “jeopardize Philippine democracy.”

The daily reminded the President that it was during the administration of his mother, the late Corazon Aquino, that the current 1987 Constitution was adopted. The editorial also cited the sacrifices of his father and namesake in the anti-Marcos dictatorship struggle.

“Mr. Aquino should uphold the Constitution of a fragile democracy if only out of respect for his father, who was assassinated in the struggle against Marcos, and for his mother, who died in 2009 after leading the ‘people power’ that triumphed over the excesses and abuses of the presidency,” the editorial read.

“Mr. Aquino came to power in 2010 vowing to rid the Philippines of corruption. At that time, the country ranked 134th in Transparency International’s corruption index. In 2013, it ranked 94th,” the editorial pointed out.

The New York Times also scoffed at Aquino’s citing the need to complete reforms as one of his reasons for considering term extension.

“Mr. Aquino wants more time to complete his reform programs, but there will always be unfinished business,” the New York Times said.

In an exclusive interview with TV5 early this month, Aquino first expressed his openness to Charter change, citing the need to clip what he considered the immense powers of the Supreme Court.

In another exclusive interview aired on Thursday, this time with Bombo Radyo, Aquino lashed out at the high court for the latter’s allegedly meddling too much in political issues.

“Perhaps judicial reach needs to be reviewed and limited,” Aquino said in the interview.

The President said the high court’s power to check other branches of government should be used sparingly and “with restraint.” In the same interview, however, he clarified that his being open to term extension is not the reason for his support for Charter change. But he said the will of his “bosses,” the people, should prevail.

Aquino’s tiff with the SC came to a head after the latter declared certain acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.

Reacting to the New York Times editorial, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the President merely wanted to ensure there is balance of power among the three branches of government. Coloma also stressed Aquino was not aching to stay in power after 2016.

“President Aquino is simply explaining to the Filipino people why the government is appealing the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program,” he said.

He also said the President realized the need to review the 1987 Constitution on the issue of “judicial reach” in the wake of the SC’s decision to uphold the previous Arroyo administration’s appointment of Renato Corona as chief justice. Corona was later impeached for breach of public trust for failing to properly declare his wealth in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

“Given this context, it is inappropriate to characterize this specific action of the President as ‘political mischief,’ or with infidelity to the principles espoused by his parents,” Coloma pointed out.

“President Aquino remains solidly committed to the transformation of Philippine society that is anchored upon good governance, upon the righteous path and on the vitality of its democratic institutions,” he added. – Aurea Calica, Charmaine Pagulong, Delon Porcalla