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Court Contempt Threat for Purisima Only Raises More Questions

July 13, 2005

There’s little doubt in my mind that the Supreme Court issued the show cause order against former Sec. Purisima to indirectly declare that it was not pressured into issuing the eVAT TROs.  The Court’s order went like this:

Acting on print and broadcast accounts in the last few days that former Secretary Cesar V. Purisima of the Department of Finance claimed or insinuated that the Court was pressured or influenced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo or Malacañang Palace to issue the Temporary Restraining Order in these cases, the Court RESOLVED TO DIRECT former SECRETARY CESAR V. PURISIMA to show cause, within a non-extendible period of five (5) days from receipt hereof, why he should not be held in contempt for such act or conduct which puts the Court and its Members into dishonor, disrepute and discredit, and degrades the administration of justice.

Under the Rules of Court, Purisima risks paying a fine or imprisonment or both, if found guilty of indirect contempt.  But is he guilty?  As far as I know, he did not categorically declare that the Supreme Court was pressured by Malacanang to issue the TRO.  In fact, he adopted the oft-used phrase “I neither confirm nor deny.”  Did he insinuate that the Court was influenced by the President?  Maybe.

But that’s beside the point.  Whatever the Court does to Purisima, this move to cite him in contempt will not quell the speculation or clear itself of the charge.  It will only add fuel to the fire because now it seems that the Court is taking retaliatory action against Sec. Purisima in behalf of Malacanang.  (more…)

Posted by JJ Disini at 5:55 am | permalink | comments[2]