Statement of Sen. Pangilinan on Pres. Duterte’s Martial Law Comment

August 10, 2016
FNP profile

The President may be joking because an order to disobey a legal order or a decision of the Supreme Court is against the Constitution.

Let us work together. In light of the latest exchange of words between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, we reiterate our call to convene the Joint Judicial, Executive, and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JJELACC).

Instead of this word war between the two branches of government and in response to the spate of extrajudicial killings, we should focus on working together to coordinate efforts at modernizing our judiciary and system of justice.

The Philippine justice system is antiquated and crying out for reforms. The current situation of extrajudicial killings is really an indictment of the justice system of our country — slow and unresponsive up to a certain degree. That’s why we reiterate our call for the creation of JJELACC.

Let all three branches of government come together to address issues and challenges to the rule of law.

Word war is not good for our constitutional democracy.

Baka naman nagbibiro lang ang Pangulo sa kaniyang pahayag dahil ang hindi pagsunod sa isang kautusang ligal o kapasyahan ay labag sa Saligang Batas.

Magtulungan tayo. Sa palitan ng salita sa pagitan nina Presidente Rodrigo Duterte at Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, ating muling pinapanawagan na tipunin ang Joint Judicial, Executive, and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JJELACC).

Sa halip na palitan ng salita sa pagitan ng dalawang sangay ng pamahalaan at bilang tugon na rin sa sunod-sunod na extrajudicial killings, kailangang isulong natin ang pagtutulungan upang ipagtugma-tugma ang ating mga pagsisikap na gawing makabago ang hudikatura at sistemang pangkatarungan.

Ang sistema ng katarungan ng Pilipinas ay lipas na at sumisigaw ng reporma. Ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng extrajudicial killings ay sumasalamin sa ating sistemang pangkatarungan — mabagal at kadalasan ay hindi makatugon. Kaya ating muling pinanawagan ang pagbuo ng JJELACC.

Nais nating ang tatlong sangay ng pamahalaan ay magsama-sama upang tugunan ang mga isyu at mga hamon sa rule of law.

Ang pagbabangayan ay hindi maganda para sa ating constitutional democracy.