SC petition vs. Bayanihan Act ‘democracy at work’: solon

FILE: Facade of Supreme Court of the Philippines (PNA photo)

MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Wednesday said the petition filed before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is “democracy at work,” and even praising the petitioner for raising the issue at the proper forum.

“Personally, I believe this is democracy at work. While I cannot comment on the merits of the petition, I trust that the Supreme Court will distill the issues and resolve the case without any regard to political ideologies, as it is constitutionally mandated to do.

After all, the Supreme Court is the final arbiter,” Go said in a statement.

“Be that as it may, I commend the law dean in pursuing this case before the Supreme Court.

At least, this law dean puts his money where his mouth is. Unlike others who simply resort to posting on social media that this law is unconstitutional, he actually filed a case in the proper forum,” he added.

In a nine-page petition filed Tuesday before the SC, Jaime Ibañez, former law dean of the Laguna State Polytechnic University, said the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is unconstitutional for granting President Rodrigo Duterte legislative authority to exercise power “other than what is necessary and proper to carry out the declared national policy.”

Go said the petition would give the Executive, the Legislative, the Judiciary, and, most importantly, the public “to know once and for all whether the law is constitutional.”

He said the outcome of the petition would also serve as a “guide for the future.”

“Ilagay lang natin sa tamang proseso ang mga argumento para lahat tayo matuto. Kung nagkamali ang Congress, we will know what to do next time the situation calls for it. Kung tama naman tayo, sana irespeto ng tao (Let’s just put the arguments through the proper process so that all of us will learn. If Congress erred, we will know what to do next time the situation calls for it. But if we are right, the public should respect it),” Go said.