Negros judges, court workers join “Black Monday” protest

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Yesterday was the black shirts of the judiciary against the yellow ribbons of the Aquino administration.

About 80 percent of the judges and court employees in Negros Occidental wore black shirts yesterday to join the nationwide protest against the proposed abolition of the Judiciary Development Fund by the allies of President Benigno Aquino III.

This was confirmed by lawyer Gerald John Joven, president of the Philippine Association of Court Employees-Negros Occidental, saying they were supporting the silent protest, dubbed as "Black Monday."

Earlier, Liberal Party member and Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. filed House Bill 4738 seeking to repeal Presidential Decree 1949, which created the JDF.

Tupas filed the bill on Tuesday, the day after Aquino slammed the Supreme Court for partially declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program as unconstitutional. Tupas insisted that JDF lacks transparency and accountability.

Joven said PACE stands firm and one in support of the SC in its thrust of providing and maintaining a strong judicial system founded on the principles of efficiency, probity and independence.

"In these embattled times, when the integrity of the SC as a co-equal branch of the government is subjected to unsound political accusations and attempts to undermine its fiscal autonomy, the PACE strongly believes that the rule of law has to be respected and that the sacrosanct role of the Philippine Constitution, upon which all political rights and powers emanate from, has to be upheld at all times," Joven said.

He said the SC, being the court of last resort and the last bulwark of democracy, recently promulgated decisions nullifying several national legislative and executive programs on the ground of unconstitutionality, thus earning the ire of these branches of government.

"In apparent retaliation, new measures like the abolition of the JDF and Special Allowance for Justices and Judges are being undertaken to attack and impair its stability, directly and implicitly persuading it to give in to unrelenting political demands," Joven said.

"PACE strongly condemns these uncalled for maneuverings and asserts the judiciary has to be freed from all forms and vestiges of political pressures couched on personal agendas," he said.

Joven added that PACE "manifests its vote of confidence in favor of the SC and will continue to be watchful in order to safeguard the honor of the judiciary."

Meanwhile, when pressed for a reaction, lawyer Enrique Tabino, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental, said the organization would remain "neutral" on the issue.

However, he pointed out that JDF must be transparent, as well as the DAP and the Priority Development Assistance Fund, adding that there is a need to pass the Freedom of Information bill to deter corruption.