VARIOUS civil society organizations staged a rally on Padre Faura in Manila yesterday to protest the Supreme Court decision allowing President Gloria Arroyo to appoint a new Chief Justice during the election campaign period.
The High Tribunal had voted 9-3 to give the president the power to appoint, saying the constitutional provision barring the president from appointing during the 90-day election period does not apply to the Supreme Court.
Among civil society stalwarts who rallied in front of the Supreme Court were University of the Philippines professor Winnie Monsod, NGO activist Teresita Quintos-Deles and Bayan Muna’s Teddy Casiño. They were joined by Senators Francis Pangilinan and Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal.
Akbayan Rep. Riza Hontiveros was also at the Supreme Court to file a motion asking the Supreme Court to disqualify Arroyo from running for congresswoman of Pampanga. Hontiveros filed a motion asking for a reversal of an earlier ruling throwing out a petition to disqualify Arroyo.
VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio was on Padre Faura yesterday and filed the photos below: