CHIEF Justice Reynato Puno on Thursday denied reports that he is contemplating to take an early retirement allegedly owing to his “frustration” over the decision of the majority of his colleagues in the Supreme Court  (SC) to uphold the validity of the invocation of executive privilege by Malacañang to prevent the Senate from compelling former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri to reveal his conversation with President Arroyo with regard to the aborted national broadband network (NBN) project with China’s ZTE Co.

In a statement signed by Puno, he categorically declared that he intends to finish his term, which will end in May 2010.

“I am denying the rumors and speculations that I will retire from the position of Chief Justice before May 17, 2010, when I will reach the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 70,” Puno said.

Reports said that another possible reason Puno is mulling to leave his post prior to the end of his term is to give way for his friend and the most senior associate justice, Leonardo Quisumbing, a chance to serve as chief justice.

“The office of the Chief Justice is a trust given by the people, and I will fulfill the trust until the end of my term by continuing to discharge my duties with independence and fairness,” Puno stressed.

He said that his appointment on December 7, 2006 as Chief Justice was without any political conditions, thus, he assured that the SC “will continue to be the defender of the Rule of Law and the protector of our people’s rights.”

Puno wrote a 120-page dissenting opinion on the Neri case, where he held that executive privilege was not properly invoked by the President.

Puno added that Neri should answer the three questions subject of the petition as these are relevant to the ongoing legislative investigation on the anomalous NBN project.

He said Malacañang failed to prove that answering the questions would jeopardize the country’s security as well as its diplomatic relations with China.

The three questions in which Neri manifested that President Arroyo had invoked executive privilege in his behalf were  (1) whether the President followed up the NBN project; (2) whether he was dictated to prioritize the ZTE; and (3) whether the President said to go ahead and approve the project after being told about the alleged bribe.

On the other hand, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said that Puno has no pressing reasons to opt for early retirement.

“He [Puno] is well respected and has high credibility and he is not ailing, why would he retire ahead of his scheduled retirement date,” Gonzalez added.

Senate panel backs scrapping of oil E-VAT

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CHIEF Justice Reynato Puno on Thursday denied reports that he is contemplating to take an early retirement allegedly owing to his “frustration”

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed rice manipulation and hoarding charges against five Chinese nationals, three of them arrested in separate operations in Isabela province on Wednesday,

THE rank-and-file employees of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) central office have protested the holding of what they call a luxurious six-day conference in Iloilo City by the agency’s top officials.

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DIRECTOR General Avelino Razon Jr., National Police chief, ordered on Thursday the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to further intensify its operations against individuals and groups involved in human trafficking.