Court employees hold ‘Black and Red Monday’ protest

MANILA, Philippines - Court workers nationwide greeted President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address with another “Black and Red Monday” protest.

Employees of the Supreme Court (SC) reported to work yesterday in black and red shirts in protest of the President’s tirades against the high court over its unanimous ruling declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) illegal.

They are also protesting against moves in the House to abolish their Judiciary Development Fund and of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to impose tax on their special allowances and anniversary bonus.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. attended the flag-raising ceremony of the SC in black suit and red necktie. He tried to cover his necktie upon seeing members of the media.

He did not talk to reporters, but an insider said the color of his attire was not intentional. Apparently, he was not aware of the silent protests, as he has been out of the country in the last couple of weeks.

Velasco is the father of former Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, whose rival in the 2013 polls, Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes, was disqualified over a citizenship issue but who was able to keep her post. The House leadership has recognized Reyes, member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party, as duly elected congresswoman of the district despite her disqualification.

Two other justices – Mariano del Castillo and Martin Villarama Jr. – were present in the weekly ceremony, clad in white barong and black pants. They were joined by Philippine Judicial Academy chancellor and retired Associate Justice Rodolfo Azcuna.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who attended last week’s ceremony in a dark gray suit, was absent yesterday. She was at the Batasang Pambansa during the President’s SONA.

Failing grade

Court employees have given the President a failing grade for his four years in office, disappointed by attacks made by the President and his allies on the judiciary.

Jojo Guerrero, concurrent leader of the Judiciary Employees Association (Judea) and Supreme Court Employees Association, said they would give Aquino an approval rating of less than 30 percent and a trust rating of zero.

“He’s lying about the so-called cross-border transfer of funds committed by the SC. The facts and figures he mentioned are not true,” he said.

“Our democracy is very much alive. But one branch of government apparently does not like the checks and balances being provided by the court,” the court union leader added.

Guerrero claimed that most of the court employees who voted for Aquino in the 2010 presidential election now regret their decision.

He said they would continue their series of silent protests to “defend judicial independence and the Constitution.”

The Judea leader said they would file this week a petition with the SC questioning BIR Memorandum Order 23-2014, which imposes tax on special allowances and anniversary bonus of judges and employees. They said they would hold their silent protest every Monday. – With Christina Mendez