Former Communist and now reformed Bishop Nilo Tayag and Ang Kapatiran Party Nandy Pacheco are doing Chief Justice Reynato Puno a great disservice. As I am writing this, Tayag has just announced that over half a million Filipinos, mostly farmers, reportedly just signed a document urging Puno to run as president. Tayag and Pacheco expects to present over 3 million signatures to Puno. They believe that Puno is the right one to head the Philippine state.
I don't want to cast aspersions to Tayag and Pacheco but I share the view of former president Fidel Ramos that their acts are ill-timed and ill-advised. In fact, they really don't know the real effects of such calls for a Puno presidency on the integrity of the Chief of the Highest Tribunal of the land.
They are putting Puno in a very compromising light. Puno still heads the highest tribunal and counts for one vote. With these antics of Tayag and Pacheco, which started last week and up today, Puno's actions will now be interpreted as political instead of judicious acts. Tayag and Pacheco are trying to destroy the credibility and integrity of Puno as an impartial dispenser of justice.
What if Puno decides to vote against charter change? Allies of this administration will use this silly plan of Tayag and Pacheco as fodder for a spirited disinformation or smear campaign against the Chief Justice. Since all acts of Puno are now suspect, and probably seen by many as decisions held hostage by populist overtones, Puno is as useful as a dead horse for those who want to hinder the nefarious plan of Arroyo to extend her term. Definitely, Tayag and Pacheco already destroyed the people's view of Puno as an uncontroversial public servant.
Puno should be left alone and just be allowed to enjoy his legacy as one of the brilliant leaders of the Supreme Court.
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