New Anti-Graft Watch Wants Davide Impeachment Stopped
Calls for independent investigation of JDF scam

A new anti-corruption alliance launched last Nov. 8 described the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. as “lacking in basis” and of questionable motives. On the other hand, it called for transparency and accountability in the Judicial Development Fund, especially in the light of grievances by court employees.

BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat.com

A new anti-corruption alliance launched last Nov. 8 called on Congress to stop the impeachment case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. for being unfounded, premature and politically-motivated.

The new alliance, Action Against Corruption and Tyranny Now (ACT Now!), which included Bayan Muna representatives, former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, former Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Josie Lichauco, former BIR Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato and Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo of Plunderwatch also pressed Congress to conclude its investigation into the alleged misuse of the Judicial Development Fund (JDF) especially in the light of grievances by court employees.

The convenors of ACT Now! also scored President Macapagal-Arroyo for forging an alliance with Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) out of political convenience and at the expense of thousands of court employees.

“Is the Lakas-NPC alliance for 2004 so important as to compromise due process and the rule of law?” they asked.

ACT Now! was launched Nov. 8 at the Shalom Center of the United Churches of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Manila attended by over a hundred persons.

In a statement read by Sr. Mary John Mananzan, one of the alliance’s convenors, ACT Now! said “At the heart of the controversy is the alleged mismanagement and misappropriation of the Judicial Development Fund (JDF). We fully support calls for transparency and accountability in the JDF, especially in light of grievances by court employees.”

Baseless and questionable

ACT Now! convenors said that the impeachment complaint against Davide is without basis and the motives behind it are questionable.

“At this point, even Congress has yet to conclude its investigation into the JDF,” their statement went further. “Then, until a substantial, significant and definitive finding is made on the matter, we believe there is not enough basis for the impeachment of Chief Justice Hilario Davide.

“In this context, we maintain that the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Davide is premature, unfounded and an iniquitous move by pro-impeachment legislators led by the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).”

The group said the complaint is “intended to embarrass the chief justice and harass and pressure the Supreme Court into reversing or softening its earlier ruling on the coco levy fund as well as promote the vested interests of certain groups within the Supreme Court who stand to benefit from the removal of Chief Justice Davide.”

ACT Now! called on the Supreme Court to “use its judicial powers to uphold truth and justice and not simply to protect the chief justice or any of its members from investigation or impeachment. Neither should the Court be involved in any politically-engineered ‘covenant’ that may further compromise its integrity and independence.”

ACT Now! is calling for the following:

1. For Congress to withdraw the impeachment complaint and prioritize its investigation into Commission on Audit (COA) reports on the JDF disbursement;

2. For the Supreme Court to open the financial records of the JDF in order to effect complete transparency and accountability;

3. For the Senate to reject the impeachment complaint if it is transmitted for trial by Congress;

4. For Congress to disclose to public scrutiny the disbursement and utilization of its own Congressional Development Funds (CDF).

Campaign issues

At the launching, Romy Abaya of Plunderwatch-San Juan chapter and the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA) announced the initial list of issues on which to base the campaign of ACT Now!: the Jancom, IMPSA, and PEA-PDMA deals, the Peace bonds fiasco, the Jose Pidal accounts, corruption in the AFP, the coco levy funds, campaign funds scandals, the GSIS and Pagcor anomalies, and the alleged mishandling of the Judiciary Development Fund.

Abaya said that ACT Now! will carry out its campaigns through the filing of cases, forum series on corruption, and a convention on corruption.

“It is really difficult to tackle corruption,” said Abaya. “You’d tend to lose hope, and it is good that there are many here who still have a sprinkling of hope.”

Perspectives 

In his inspirational message, Fr. Joe Dizon of Kairos Philippines said that corruption in the Philippines has its roots in the colonial set-up of Philippine society. The militant priest said that throughout history, colonial powers have cultivated a native elite forever willing to advance their interests.

“We can only eliminate corruption by changing society,” Fr. Dizon said.

Former Solicitor-General Chavez, former Transportation and Communication Secretary Josie Lichauco, and former Army Capt. Rene Jarque shared personal experiences as anti-graft crusaders who started out by working individually within the establishment. They all emphasized the need for movements such as ACT Now! in the people’s fight against corruption.

Ferdinand Gaite, national chair of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) said that government workers have a prominent part to play in the campaign against corruption, as they are situated “in the belly of the beast.” At the same time, he also enjoined people’s organizations to support anti-corruption crusaders.

Plunderwatch convenor Dr. Pagaduan-Araullo said, “The fight against corruption cannot be limited to lifestyle checks nor appeals to good will. We must learn to bring the fight to a larger context.”

Lawyer Vinzons-Chato read the unity statement of ACT Now!, copies of which were distributed to be signed by the guests.

Convenors

In the alliance’s initial list of participating individuals and organizations are: Bp. Eleazar Pascua, Christians for Good Government; Bp. Gabriel Garol, Church and People’s Action for Good Government; former DoTC Undersecretary Lichauco, former solicitor-general Frank Chavez, former BIR commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato; Prof. Triccie Sison, Citizens’National Network Against Poverty and Corruption;

Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Plunderwatch; Rep. Satur Ocampo, Bayan Muna; Ana Ugarte, Bantay Kontrata; Elmer Labog, Kilusang Mayo Uno; Crispin Beltran, Anakpawis; Benjie Valbuena, Manila Public School Teachers Association; Francis Mariazeta, Concerned Citizens of Manila for Good Government; Jojo Pineda, League of Concerned Professionals and Businessmen;

Sr. Conchita Valerio, RVN; Rose Nartates, Pagkakaisa ng Kawani Galit sa Mandarambong (PGMA); Dr. Darby Santiago, CODE RED for Good Governance; Norberto Autor, Bicol Coconut Planters Association; Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE; Fr. Joe Dizon; Teodoro Casiño, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan; Sr. Mary John Mananzan, GABRIELA;

Rafael Mariano, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas; ex-Army Capt. Rene Jarque; Romy Abaya, Plunderwatch-San Juan and Selda; Raymond Palatino, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP); Liza Maza, GABRIELA Women’s Party; Carmen Deunida, Kalipunan ng mga Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay); Pastor Saycon, Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA); and Apolinario Alvarez, Anak ng Bayan. Bulatlat.com

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