“Arroyo does not follow rule of law because she thinks she is the law” – youth solon

Kabataan Partylist today joined the Solidarity March of lawyers, law students, youth groups and concerned groups against Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s “midnight appointment” of the next Supreme Court chief justice.

In a press conference before the march, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino said, “Pres. Arroyo does not know nor follow the rule of law because she thinks she is the law.”

“Like Medusa who turns anything she stares at into stone, so would Arroyo taint the sanctity of the high court if she appoints the next Chief Justice. Any appointment she makes will be flawed and suspect.”

The youth solon said that the appointment of the next chief justice should be done by the next president.

“The next chief justice, his or her independence and non-partisanship, will have great implications when Arroyo’s term ends this May. The appointment of a midnight chief justice despite its unconstitutionality reeks of Arroyo’s desperation to escape accountability from all cases of plunder, corruption, human rights violations and other cases against her,” he said.

A midnight chief justice, Palatino said, would be “the last nail to seal the coffin that is Arroyo’s perpetuation into power.”

Out of the 15 present members of the Supreme Court, only outgoing Chief Justice Puno is not appointed by Arroyo.

“All 14 other members were appointed by her. She clearly wants to control and consolidate the judiciary for her own interests.” ###