By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is committed to defer to and uphold the rule of law regardless of the political and social status of a person, who is facing a case before the court, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, made it clear that the Executive branch will not interfere with the affairs of the judiciary after the Supreme Court lifted its temporary restraining order on the Mamasapano trial against former President Benigno Aquino III at the Sandiganbayan.
"The President and this Administration will always give deference to and uphold the rule of law regardless of the political and social stature of those involved in cases pending before the Judiciary," he said.
He said the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan can tackle the matter with independence pursuant to their respective mandates.
"As these institutions afford each citizen his or her constitutional guarantees under the Bill of Rights, we expect the latter to respect the proceedings and bow to the majesty of the law," he said.
"We will, as usual, let the law take its course," he added.
The Supreme Court earlier lifted the temporary restraining order on the Mamasapano trial pending before the anti-graft court.
With the lifting of the TRO, the Sandiganbayan could proceed with deciding on the petition of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to withdraw the supposed weak charges filed against Aquino over the death of the 44 policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Aquino is facing cases of graft and usurpation of authority for the Mamasapano deaths.
Panelo said they would not comment on the action taken by the Supreme Court in deference to the separate and independent branch of government.
"We cannot and we do not intend to interfere with the functions of other branches which are distinct from the Executive," he said.