TAKE THAT RARE, LAST CHANCE TO STOP MISUSE OF FUNDS, SC URGED April 16, 2004 The Supreme Court will have a rare, last chance to impose its authority in stopping the continued misuse and dissipation of public funds for election purposes if it would reverse its decision rejecting a petition that sought to consider President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo resigned. This was the contention of opposition senatorial bets Boots Anson-Roa and Amina Rasul as they dared the High Court to take an activist role, like it did in recent past, in putting an end to the Arroyo administration’s exploitation of government’s vast resources in ensuring the President’s candidacy. Anson-Roa and Rasul filed yesterday a motion for reconsideration to renew their bid to prevent Arroyo from misusing public funds and resources by asking the court to consider her resigned or on official leave of absence while campaigning for the presidency. The two Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino senatorial candidates said the High Court should now confront squarely the issues they raised, instead of “dodging it by artful artifices of judicial avoidance or evasion” in order that the country “might in time be rid of this pestilence of Philippine politics.” The two candidates noted that it was Arroyo who proclaimed “openly and pridefully” that she is ready to suffer imprisonment rather than stop committing violations of the law “in the name of governance” or “serving the people.” “This pronouncement which came and is still coming from the lips of the President herself, is not only unfortunate, it is disgraceful, deplorable and outrageous,” the petitioners declared. Anson-Roa and Rasul urged the SC magistrates to revisit the basis by which the Constitutional Commission decided to prohibit a sitting president from seeking re-election. The reason for this, they pointed out, is the fact that the constitutional body had feared the political scenario currently unfolding in the country. In a press statement, Anson-Roa said the judiciary is rich in jurisprudence giving more importance in spirit of a provision of the Constitution rather than its letter. She said Filipinos are hoping the SC would take jurisdiction over the issue in order that the current situation can be clarified. “I firmly believe the Court has jurisdiction over the issue and it may grant the relief we are asking. Our magistrates should take advantage of this rare situation where they can right a grievous wrong being committed against our people,” Anson-Roa added.