Corona stands by recall of PAL ruling

CHIEF Justice Renato Corona on Wednesday stood by the Supreme Court’s decision to recall its Sept. 7 ruling in favor of 1,400 flight attendants who claim they were illegally fired by Philippine Airlines in 1998.

“Before you attack the Supreme Court, you should study the case first,” Corona said.

“Some people say so many things against the Court even if they don’t obviously understand the case.”

The Sept. 7 decision by the Second Division, which ordered PAL to reinstate the flight attendants and pay them back wages, was recalled over a technicality Monday, with the Court saying the Special Third Division should have decided the case.

Corona’s statement came after President Benigno Aquino III said in a forum that the Palace could only appeal to the Supreme Court to hasten the proceedings to settle the dispute between the airline and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines.

On Wednesday, lawyer Ramon Esguerra, general counsel of the 40,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines, denounced the attacks on the Supreme Court.

“We are making a call for sobriety,” he said.

“We should remember the Court is merely recalling and not reversing a decision.”

The IBP has tasked Esguerra to study the case, and on Wednesday he said the group felt there that was still no cause for alarm.

He said until the Supreme Court decided on the case, it could not be accused of flip-flopping.

The flight attendants who were laid off in 1998 demonstrated in front of the Supreme Court Tuesday to protest its decision to recall the Sept. 7 “final” ruling. –Rey E. Requejo, Manila Standard Today