Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino deplored the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting with finality the appeal to reverse the ruling allowing Pres. Gloria Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice.

Palatino reiterated his stand that the appointment of the next chief justice should be done by the next president “so as not to taint his or her independence and non-partisanship.”

“We fear that this would serve to perpetuate a GMA-forever scenario. The appointment of a midnight chief justice despite its possible political implications is the last nail to seal the coffin that is Arroyo’s escape from cases of plunder, corruption, human rights violations. She can end her term in peace and start a new one devoid of persecution and accountability for all cases against her,” he said.

“It is now up to the public, especially our young lawyers, our new bar passers to uphold the Constitution. Together with the public, they should not allow GMA to control and consolidate the judiciary for her political and personal expediency.”

He added, “Arroyo’s appointment of a midnight chief justice will affect the credibility of the judicial system, something that our new lawyers and our youth should not allow to happen.” ###