Malacañang on Wednesday asked Mrs. Arroyo’s critics, including presidential bets, to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling on whether or not the President can appoint a new Sandiganbayan presiding justice instead of interpreting the Constitution in their own way.

Presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said they should leave up the issue to the Supreme Court, which is the sole authority that can decide over the issue.

“It seems some of our candidates would rather be justices instead, given their habit of interpreting the Constitution even without legal training or advice. The Supreme Court, in fact, has yet to rule with finality on whether the election ban covers judicial appointments,” he said in a statement.

Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and Bagumbayan party presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon dismissed Mrs. Arroyo’s plan to appoint the successor of Justice Norberto Geraldez following his death on Sunday.

“Let all sides on this issue await the decision of the High Court. We should also consider the principle that justice delayed is justice denied,” Saludo said. “Allowing a prompt appointment to the Sandiganbayan would expedite cases now pending before it. The citizen’s right to a speedy trial also deserves respect and attention, at least as much as the gripes of critics,” he added.

Aquino said there is a danger if the President would be allowed to appoint the next chief of the anti-graft court because it would give her leeway to escape from the possible graft charges that would be lodged against her and her relatives after she steps down from presidency on June 30.