The Department of Justice is saddened and apprehensive with the recent ruling of the 2nd Division of the Supreme Court involving the Batasan 5, because, beyond being a decision on this particular case, the Supreme Court ruling is fraught with far-reaching and adverse consequences on our criminal justice system.

Time-honored and well-established principles on criminal law and procedure were seemingly trampled upon.

The sun never sets on the work of the Philippine President in the modern world. In the past two weeks, I have traveled across East Asia to reap greater tides, peace and prosperity for our nation; and I am embarking today for the Vatican and Portugal in a virtually uninterrupted voyage for trade, investments, peace, security and spiritual rearmament for the Filipino people.

Japan was for economic partnership. New Zealand was for peace. Australia was for regional security. I shall go to the Vatican to seek the Pope’s renewed blessings for our people, then to Portugal to reinvigorate century-old ties. On the way home, I shall pass by Chengdu in Sichuan, China’s largest province; and Chongquing, the fastest growing city in the world.

From the economic to the spiritual realm, the Filipino rules the future. From seven percent growth to fuel the fight against poverty, we take higher inspiration from the prospective canonization of the first Filipino Saint of this century. God has given us a wellspring of blessings as well as the fortitude and the armor to do good and prosper.

We are stitching the threads of history and strategy to gain the vantage point for the Filipino people towards the end of the decade. From political stability at home, we have to stretch our horizons to security in the region. From economic vibrance at home, we must derive broader alliances to leverage the excellence of the Filipino and the value of our natural resources.

Growth must defeat poverty, global cooperation must win the peace, trade must propel people-to-people exchanges that make us one world and one humanity. The panoply of aspirations, creeds and dreams in East Asia must drive a caring and sharing community.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was saddened and apprehensive with the recent 23-page ruling of the Supreme Court dismissing the rebellion case against six party-list representatives dubbed the "Batasan 6" and their co-accused, who purportedly conspired in an armed revolt to overthrow the government.

According to the DOJ, the dismissal is fraught with far-reaching and adverse consequences on our criminal justice system. Thus, through the Solicitor General, the DOJ will file a motion for reconsideration.

Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera likewise expressed some wariness on the SC’s dismissal ruling. "Actually, my office has not been officially served with a copy of the decision, so all my information comes from print and broadcast media reports," she said. "But based on what I have read, there are compelling reasons to file for a motion for reconsideration."

When asked to expound, Devanadera explained that a motion for reconsideration would be "in the interest of preserving the long-established principles on criminal law and procedure, which are in place for the protection of both the accused and the state."

Moreover, the Solicitor General noted that this may include the determination of probable cause by the prosecutor and the trial court, as well as upholding the hierarchy of court.

"After all, the Office of the Solicitor General is not only the statutory counsel of government, but also the tribune of the people," Devanadera emphasized.

Others were also quick to point out that the decision may send the wrong impression to the citizenry about the hierarchy of our courts.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo flew to Rome, Italy this afternoon en route to Portugal where she will be meeting with Portuguese President Anibal Caraco Silva and visit the Shrine of the Our lady of Fatima.

The President, smart in a black pant suit, was seen off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal II in Pasay City by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, among others.

As scheduled, the President’s plane left at exactly 2:30 p.m. for Rome where she will be attending the canonization of the Blessed Marie Eugenie, the foundress of the Religious of the Assumption.

The visit to the capital of the Christian world and to Portugal -- the country where the Mother Mary appeared to three poor shepherd children 90 years ago -- is for the "spiritual rearmament for the Filipino people," President Arroyo said.

In her departure statement, the President said: "I am embarking today for the Vatican and Portugal in a virtually uninterrupted voyage for trade, investments, peace, security and spiritual rearmament for the Filipino people."

"I shall go to the Vatican to seek the Pope’s renewed blessings for our people, then to Portugal to reinvigorate century-old ties," President Arroyo added.

The Chief Executive -- who had just visited Japan, New Zealand and Australia – stressed that "the sun never sets on the work of the Philippine President in the modern world."

The President was in Japan from May 22-25; New Zealand from May 27-30, and Australia from May 30-31.

"In the past two weeks, I have traveled across East Asia to reap greater tides, peace and prosperity for our nation… Japan was for economic partnership, New Zealand was for peace (and) Australia for regional security," she said.

"From the economic to the spiritual realm, the Filipino rules the future… God has given us a well-spring of blessings as well as the fortitude and the armor to do good and prosper," the President enthused.

"From political stability at home, we have to stretch our horizons to security in the region. From economic vibrance at home, we must derive broader alliances to leverage the excellence of the Filipino and the value of our natural resources," she said.

"Growth must defeat poverty; and global cooperation must win the peace; trade must propel the people-to-people exchanges that make us one world and one humanity," she added.

"The panoply of aspirations, creeds and dreams in East Asia must drive a caring and sharing community," said the President who stressed that "we are stitching the threads of history and strategy to gain the vantage point for the Filipino people towards the end of the decade."

The President – who will be passing by China on her way home to the Philippines – concluded, thus:

"We shall continue to forge on with the unity of the Filipino people behind the sails of our nation, the confidence of the world as a buoy in challenging seas, and the collective patriotism of our leaders to pave the way forward. We shall bring your warm embrace to all our compatriots in the lands I shall visit."