The statements made by Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of San Beda Graduate School of Law, that a constitutional crisis has broken out because of the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona are not only irresponsible, they bespeak their ignorance of the Constitution.
The Constitution has provided for checks and balances to prevent the three branches of government—executive, legislative and judicial—from abusing their respective powers. Thus, the Judiciary can nullify official acts of the Legislature and the Executive if it finds such acts unconstitutional or in violation of law. On the other hand, the Legislature has been given the power to impeach Supreme Court justices. Therefore, the act of the House of Representatives in impeaching Chief Justice Corona assures us that the Constitution is very much alive and kicking in our system of governance. Therefore, it would be better for those who are spreading the “gospel” of constitutional crisis to just shut up.
—NESTOR N. FAJARDO,
nestofaj@yahoo.com.ph