PHILIPPINES : SURPREME COURT RULES THAT BID TO IMPEACH TOP JUDGE BECAUSE OF ALLEGED MISHANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, IS UNLAWFUL
Record ID:
647701
PHILIPPINES : SURPREME COURT RULES THAT BID TO IMPEACH TOP JUDGE BECAUSE OF ALLEGED MISHANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, IS UNLAWFUL
- Title: PHILIPPINES : SURPREME COURT RULES THAT BID TO IMPEACH TOP JUDGE BECAUSE OF ALLEGED MISHANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, IS UNLAWFUL
- Date: 10th November 2003
- Summary: (U3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (NOVEMBER 10, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO DAVIDE ATTENDING MASS 0.06 2. SMV HILARIO DAVIDE AT MASS 0.15 3. SMV MEDIA 0.20 4. VARIOUS OF GUARDS PREVENTING JOURNALISTS FROM INTERVIEWING DAVIDE 0.35 5. CLOSE OF DOCUMENT WITH COURT DECISION 0.41 6. VARIOUS OF COURT SPOKESMAN ISMAEL KHAN SHOWING REPORTERS COURT DECISION (2 SHOTS) 0.57 7. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUPREME COURT SPOKESMAN ISMAEL KHAN SAYING: "The supreme court decided before noon today to declare the second impeachment complaint unconstitutional and that the court has jurisdiction to act on the questions raised by the various petitions before it in connection with the impeachment complaint." 1.21 8. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF SUPREME COURT BUILDING 1.28 9. CLOSE OF SUPREME COURT BADGE OUTSIDE BUILDING 1.33 10. VARIOUS OF PRO IMPEACHMENT DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE CONGRESS (2 SHOTS) 1.44 11. SMV TWO PROTESTORS WEARING HILARIO DAVIDE FACE MASKS 1.50 12. SMV PROTESTOR MAKING "THUMBS DOWN" GESTURE 1.57 13. WIDE OF PRO IMPEACHMENT DEMONSTRATION 2.03 14. SLV OF RIOT POLICE ARRIVING 2.16 15. SMV LINE OF RIOT POLICE IN HELMETS 2.21 16. WIDE OF RIOT POLICE STANDING BEHIND BARBED WIRE 2.30 17. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-IMPEACHMENT AND ESTRADA SUPPORTER RONALD LUMBAO SAYING: "We are saddened very much by the fact we are angered by the decision and probably this anger could be felt all over the nation. We will definitely pursue our protest so that the message can get across and that our main and simple message is that GMA (PRESIDENT ARROYO) failed to exercise leadership and therefore she lost now her moral authority to lead this government." 2.56 12. SLV DEMONSTRATORS WITH POSTERS READING " SAVE DAVIDE ,SAVE THE JUDICIARY ,SAVE OUR COUNTRY" 3.03 13. CLOSE OF NUN WEARING A SIGN THAT READS "STOP IMPEACHMENT MOVEMENT" 3.09 14. WIDE OF ANTI-IMPEACHMENT GROUP 3.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 25th November 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVA8DBWPPMMB1HRBAZH1SRA4I6SM
- Story Text: The Philippines faces a constitutional crisis
after the Supreme Court ruled that a bid to impeach the country's
top judge was unlawful.
The Philippines faces a constitutional crisis as the
Supreme Court ruled that a bid to impeach the country's top
judge was unlawful, setting the stage for a showdown
between Congress and the judiciary.
Supreme Court spokesman Ismael Khan read the high
court's decision to reporters immediately after the vote
was counted on Monday (November 10).
Khan said that thirteen of the justices had said the
decision (of the House of Representatives to launch an
impeachment complaint against Davide) was unconstitutional.
Ismael Khan told reporters, "The supreme court decided
before noon today to declare the second impeachment
complaint unconstitutional and that the court has
jurisdiction to act on the questions raised by the various
petitions before it in connection with the impeachment
complaint."
Congress wants to impeach Davide on charges he
mishandled public funds, an accusation the chief justice
has denied.
There was no immediate reaction from the 80-plus
legislators who have threatened to file the impeachment
case to the Senate on Monday.
The ruling comes as investors fret about volatility in
the country ahead of elections next May.
The impeachment attempt has prompted street protests
and divided the country along familiar lines -- supporters
of ousted President Joseph Estrada have backed it, while
the Catholic Church and former president Corazon Aquino
have led rallies against it.
Protesters of both persuasions took to the streets of
Manila shortly after the announcement was made.
Former President Joseph Estrada supporter Ronald Lumbao
said he hoped the protests against the government would
swell after the Supreme Court declared the impeachment
complaint against Davide unlawful.
"We are saddened very much by the fact we are angered
by the decision and probably this anger could be felt all
over the nation. We will definitely pursue our protest so
that the message can get across and that our main and
simple message is that GMA (PRESIDENT ARROYO) failed to
exercise leadership and therefore she lost now her moral
authority to lead this government," he said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had said earlier the
Supreme Court's ruling should be honoured, as her party
held last-minute talks to persuade lawmakers to withdraw
backing for the complaint.
A court spokesman said 13 out of 14 justices had
decided the impeachment was unconstitutional because it was
the second such complaint against chief justice Hilario
Davide in a year. The constitution allows no more than one
impeachment complaint against the same official in a year.
Analysts say Arroyo, who is trailing in polls ahead of
the elections, risks losing crucial political support if
she fails to resolve the crisis.
"We shall follow the solemn duty to uphold the decision
of the high court and we shall enforce any directive issued
by it," Arroyo said in a statement issued before the ruling.
"We shall do this not because the presidency is taking
sides with the court but because the constitution says so."
House Speaker Jose de Venecia said on Sunday there
would be a "real, real crisis" if the court ruled the
impeachment unconstitutional.
Some of the lawmakers who have filed the impeachment
complaint against Davide on allegations he misused public
funds have said they are determined to go ahead with an
impeachment no matter what the Supreme Court ruled.
They said their attempt to impeach the judge was a
political issue and the court should not block it.
They are expected to attempt to send impeachment
articles to the Senate for trial -- despite the Supreme
Court decision -- as the House of Representatives
reconvenes on Monday after a two-week break.
The impeachment row has sparked fresh political
uncertainty that has dragged the peso close to record lows
in recent weeks. The currency briefly weakened on Monday
morning but rebounded to trade at 55.25/29, little changed
from Friday.
The risk of volatility was underlined at the weekend
when a former aviation chief and his bodyguard were shot
dead by police after briefly taking over the control tower
at Manila's international airport in a protest against
corruption.
The government said the men were acting alone but the
siege stirred rumours that disgruntled military units could
be planning a coup following a failed mutiny by soldiers in
July.
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