An appeal to SC justices: Resist political pressure
Your Honors:
The Supreme Court is the final defender of our Constitution. Upon its lucidity, fairness and integrity depend the just interpretation of our laws and our rights as citizens, and the very survival of democracy and the rule of law in our society.
We — priests, religious and laity of Gomburza — believe that the petition of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to overturn the results of the 2016 vice presidential election in his favor is not based on any real evidence of fraud in the electoral victory of Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo.
It is based on Marcos’ hopes, ambitions and reliance on his family’s ill-gotten wealth to influence the decision. We believe that the report submitted by Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa on the results of the pilot recount in three provinces — chosen by Marcos himself — will bear out the bankruptcy of his claims.
We ask of you two things. First, make public the report written by Justice Caguioa, so that all can see clearly, if they wish, the basis of your decision as to whether the Marcos petition moves forward or dies the death it deserves. And secondly, decide fairly and intelligently, on the basis of the report, to dismiss the petition.
We believe that you, the honorable justices of the Supreme Court, have the capacity to stand with the truth at this crossroads at which you are deciding whether or not the Marcos petition should be allowed to wreak further havoc on our political system.
We believe that you have the capacity to resist any political pressure or material considerations that may be brought to bear on you to produce a decision favorable to the Marcoses, palatable to the current administration, and ultimately damaging to our democracy.
We believe that you not only have the capacity to stand with the truth and to resist political pressure and pecuniary temptation, but the obligation to do this. You owe it to our country, to our democracy and to future generations of Filipinos. You owe it to yourselves, to the legacy you will be leaving as Supreme Court justices. You owe it to your own future generations: your children, your grandchildren, their children and grandchildren. You can bequeath to your descendants the shame of an ill-considered decision. Or you can bequeath to them the gift of pride in their heritage, because you stood your ground and voted righteously and courageously at this critical moment of our nation’s history.
SISTER TERESITA ALO, SFIC
FR. ROBERTO REYES
FR. FLAVIANO L. VILLANUEVA, SVD
MELODY LUMAWIG ALLANIGUE
TERESITA SAMSON CASTILLO
LUCIA LUCAS CHAVEZ
PERCIVAL CHAVEZ
ELEANOR R. DIONISIO
VERONICA ESTER MENDOZA
