Law dean chides ‘childish’ senators
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:54:00 03/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The dean of the San Beda College graduate school of law called senators “childish” on Thursday for warning of a possible constitutional crisis in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri’s invocation of executive privilege.
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, in an interview aired over the Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas said, “Let us not be childish. Let’s be mature and let’s be statesman-like,” referring to some members of the Senate.
“I think if our democracy is to survive and to flourish, one important thing is the strengthening of our Constitution. Respect the institutions. Of course, the men and women who are in our institutions must behave honorably but that also means that we must foster the republic. Have trust and confidence in our institutions,” Aquino said.
He stressed that the decision of the Supreme Court served its purpose of making the public aware of the extent of the powers of congressional inquiry, saying, “I think it is (a) well-reasoned and well-argued decision.”
Aquino said that he did not find it odd that Chief Justice Reynato Puno dissented from the rest of his court and his division, pointing out that his view was “persuasively argued.”
He maintained that he did not see very clear prospects for the court reversing itself, “although the possibility always exists.”
“What is important is that we have clear constitutional guidelines,” he added.
Aquino said decision will not prevent Neri from appearing before the Senate “as long as the question they ask is not covered by executive privilege.”
“The executive privilege is not enjoyed by the President for her sake or for the sake of the office that she occupies. So even if Neri might not like to answer if the President invokes the executive privilege in his behalf, she has the right to do that,” he explained.
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