Communications Sec. Martin Andanar reiterated Duterte’s full knowledge of the law as a lawyer.
The Malacañan Palace reassured that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will not let a Constitutional crisis to happen in the country and he recognizes the power of the Supreme Court.
This was clarified by Malacañan after the president slammed Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and warned her that he would order the Executive Department not to honor the high court if it intervenes or pressures his disposing of the responsibilities as president, especially in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Communications Sec. Martin Andanar said that aside from being a layer, and a rule of law and judicial independence advocate, Pres. Duterte sworn that he will promote and defend the 1987 Constitution.
Andanar said that Pres. Duterte’s directive to the narco-judges whom he named to report to the Supreme Court is a sign of recognizing Sereno.
He added that Duterte also recognizes the separation of powers and he himself (the president) asked Sereno not to create a constitutional crisis.
“The President is a member of the Bar who believes in the rule of law and advocates for judicial independence. As President, he has the sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution. The words and action of the President all point to these. When the President referred the named judges on his consolidated list to the Supreme Court, he was acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the judges. He recognizes the separation of powers, and even asked the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not to create a constitutional crisis”, said Andanar.
Duterte ealier lectured the chief justice regarding the bottleneck in the process before securing a warrant of arrest, saying he is not new to the process because he was once a prosecutor.
He said that while Sereno is expressing her concerns, there is slaughter going on in the streets.
He further said that what he is doing right now is a part of his job as a president. He appealed that the chief justice should not threaten him of the possible occurrence of constitutional crisis because he is just doing his job.