Hay Mali!
UP Law Professor and human rights lawyer Harry Roque assailed Supreme
Court Administration and Spokesman Midas Marquez for acting as the
personal spokesman of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Marquez has no business serving as the personal apologist of the
embattled Chief Justice. He should be speaking for the entire Supreme
Court, not just Corona, and explaining collegial decisions, not just
the views of his boss,” Roque said.
“Worse, by defending Corona to the hilt using the Supreme Court as his
platform, Marquez is practically saying that there’s nothing wrong
with culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of the people’s
trust and graft and corruption for which Corona now faces an
impeachment trial by the Senate,” Roque pointed out.
Roue added also reminded Marquez that “the impeachment of CJ Corona
has absolutely nothing to do with the workings or decisions of the SC,
thus he has no business speaking out on Corona’s impeachment in his
capacity as SC spokesman.”
“Marquez has blatantly blurred the lines separating the duties of an
SC spokesman from that of a private spokesman or lawyer who should be
doing the talking for CJ Corona pertaining to his impeachment,” he
stressed.
“Let Corona’s designated private lawyers speak for him, not someone
who is paid his salary with taxpayers’ money,” Roque said.
Roque added that Marquez may even be held criminally liable for
overstepping the bounds of his duties. “After all, the personnel,
offices and other resources of the SC cannot be conscripted or used in
defense of any members of the high court facing impeachment, whether
he be the Chief Justice.”
“Marquez will end up a towering disgrace to the lawyering profession
if he insists on acting as Corona’s spokesperson and repeating the
same chicanery and falsehoods peddled by his boss,” Roque said.
“From one lawyer to another, here’s my friendly advice to Midas: ‘Shut
up and ship out’. Either you resign and join Corona’s legal team or
shut up and stop dragging the entire Supreme Court in your obvious
attempt to please your boss”, Roque said.
You’re pretty much right there Sir. By acting as the spokesperson of the Chief Justice on the latter’s impeachment case, Midas Marquez is dragging the Supreme Court, and the entire judiciary, into the fray, which aggravates the misconception that the impeachment suit against the Chief Justice is an attack against the Judiciary.
If only Midas Marquez would heed your advice, he would spare the Judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, from more unwarranted brickbats.
I think he contributed to the problem! Masyado maingay!
I agree on you on this one
Thx!
I so agree. In addition, should not the other justices sanction Marquez for what he is doing? He should be held liable under R.A. 3019 for wasting taxpayers’ money on several appearances and speaking engagement just to drumbeat the alleged innocence of CJ Corona when he should be in his office working as Court Administrator and/or as SC spokesman. And for that matter, why is he holding two positions at the same time? Is there no other person that can do the job of Court Administrator? Since he spends most of his time (almost everyday I might add) on TV then he should concentrate being the spokesperson of the Supreme Court and resign as Court Administrator!
the law applies to all!
go team HARRY …….
Let midas do what he is presently doing because his actuation is like pouring gasoline to the already burning corona. besides although he is the spokesman for the entire SC only corona is giving him his performance rating which translates to his yearly salary increase. that harry is the reality in all government offices kelangan sipsip ke ke bossing kung hindi wala ka increase or promotion.
Everybody notices the unwanted acts of midas in appearing on television and attacking in verbal tussle the President. He and the Malacanang spokesperson Lacierdo deserve each other. I could wait to see them in a boxing match. Truth to tell, should be charged before the Supreme Court for violation of R.A. 6713, Usurpation of Authority, Conduct Gorssly Prejudicial to the best Interest of the Service etc. Maybe somebody files a case against Midas. Secondly, he assumes himself as Justice Midas. The law is clear, he has the rank and a salary of a Justice, but he is not a Justice. Just like in the local governments, A secretary of the Sangunian has the rank and salary of a department head but he is not a department head. Midas should be reminded that he is not a justice and should not act like one. Madaldal sarap sapakin.
In my opinion Mr. Roque’s just trying to have a good image towards president P-Noy because, eventually, when Corona is booted out from his position, a judge would be replacing him. And I think Mr. Roque would want to get that position, wouldn’t he? The same goes to the UE College of Law Dean who has been making positive comments and who has already filed numerous times to be one of the judges.
Hindi po. Was raised by a Judge and I don’t like the life of a magistrate.
it was but nice to hear A Roque who has the guts to say with nerve what should be heard…
Yes, please file a case against him, if only to properly define the duties of a spokesperson. Reminds me of the Spokesperson of the Ombudsman who also acted on TV as the personal defender of Merci Gutierrez.
Those legal issues are so complicated