“Age no problem, if health is good”

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO 

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

REACTIONS TO ESCUDERO AND DESIERTO’S OBJECTIONS: Our column about the objections aired by Sen. Francis Escudero and former Ombusman Aniano Desierto against the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales as the new Ombudsman elicited negative and positive reactions from our readers.

I also got one reaction to our item on Ms. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco’s candidacy for vice governor in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), coming all the way from Houston, Texas, but we will print that some other time, God willing.

In the interest of free expression and free press, I am reprinting the reactions. Interested parties are encouraged to likewise submit their comments on these two issues, and we promise to publish them, too, God willing. Below are the reactions on Justice Morales’ appointment.

-ooo-

“ESCUDERO AND DESIERTO HAVE A POINT”: From Leilani Navarro, of the Facebook group “Pugad Lawin International”, transalated from Filipino: “It seems Desierto and Escudero have a point… it is not only intelligence and credibility which should be considered in choosing who to install in these positions… Even age must be taken into account…

 The appointee must also be able to fulfill the physical demands of his obligations… I hope they would be able to be meticulous in choosing the replacement of Gutierrez…

-ooo-

“AGE NOT AN OBSTACLE, AS LONG AS HEALTH IS GOOD”: California, USA lawyer Dan I. Amosin, of the Internet egroup UPRhosigs: “I think age is not a potential obstacle to sterling performance as an Ombudsman. Merci was young and look what she did to the office. Provided they are healthy, oldsters have a wider perspective in public service, because they no longer care for filthy lucre, but their legacy in history. 

“Carlos P. Romulo was foreign secretary in his eighties. Konrad Adenauer, in his seventies, was Germany's first chancellor after World War ll. Nelson Mandela and Ronald Reagan became presidents of their respective countries in their seventies. A track record of integrity and competence is what's more essential. Age is just peripheral and inconsequential, provided Justice Carpio Morales is likewise healthy.”

-ooo-

“ESCUDERO HAS A CANDIDATE OF HIS OWN”: Sonny Avila, of another Facebook group: “Escudero is guilty of age discrimination. Oliver Wendell Holmes served the US SC up to 98. May candidate siguro si Escudero and he wants the frontrunner out of the way. Melo presided over one of the most successful elections in Philippine History and he was over 75…”
 
-ooo-

“NO BASIS FOR THE OBJECTIONS”: Art Catapang, of the Facebook group “CyberMovment to Stop Mindoro Nickel Project”, also translated from Filipino: “There is no basis in the objections of Desierto and Escudero against Justice Morales, except clear age discrimination. If Desierto is now forgetful, he can’t say the same thing of Morales. Escudero should not object only on this ground…”

---

“No problem ang edad, basta malusog lang”


INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Mga kapatid, tatandaan natin ito: Ang lahat ay dapat matutong makinig, bagal-bagalan ang mga salita, at huwag basta-basta nagagalit…” (Santiago 1:19, Bibliya).

-ooo-

MGA REAKSIYON SA PAGTUTOL NINA ESCUDERO AT DESIERTO VS. SC JUSTICE: Umani ng mga reaksion---pabor at kontra---ang inilabas natin dito ukol sa pagtutol nina Sen. Francis Escudero at dating Ombudsman Aniano Desierto laban sa posibleng pagluluklok kay Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales bilang bagong Ombusman. 

May reaksiyon din tayo na galing pa sa Houston, Texas, sa isinulat natin ukol sa kandidatura ni Ms. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco bilang bise gobernador ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) pero sa ibang araw na po natin ito ilalabas dito, God willing.

Sa ngalan ng malayang pamamahayag, ilalabas po natin ang lahat ng mga ito. Ang mga interesadong magsalita pa sa isyu ay inaanyayahan nating magsumite ng kanilang mga komento sa dalawang bagay na ito, at ilalabas din natin sila, sa kapahintulutan ng Diyos. Naririto po sa baba ang ilan sa mga reaksiyon.

-ooo-

“MAY PUNTO SINA ESCUDERO AT DESIERTO”: Mula kay Leilani Navarro ng grupong “Pugad Lawin International” sa Facebook: “Malamang me punto si Desierto at Escudero... di lamang katalinuhan at kredibilidad ang dapat isaalang-alang sa pagpili ng mga iluluklok sa mga ganitong posisyon... maging ang edad ay dapat ding isaalang-alang...

“Dapat ding magampanan ang mga tungkulin sa pamahalaan batay sa kakayahang pisikal ng maluluklok... sana po mabusisi nilang maigi ang pagpili ng kapalit ni Guttierez...

-ooo-

“DI BALAKID ANG EDAD”: Mula kay Atty. Dan I. Amosin ng California, USA: “Hindi hadlang ang edad sa pagiging mahusay na Ombudsman. Bata pa si Merci pero ano ba ang ginawa niya sa tanggapan. Basta malusog pa sila, ang mga matatanda ay mayroong mas malawak na pananaw sa serbisyo publiko, sapagkat hindi na sila titingin sa masamang kita kundi sa kanilang iiwanang kasaysayan.

 “Otsenta anyos na si Carlos P. Romulo noong siya ay naging foreign secretary. Si Konrad Adenauer, bagamat sitenta na, ay naging unang lider ng Germany matapos ang World War II. Naging pangulo ng kanilang mga bansa sina Nelson Mandela at Ronald Reagan noong sisenta na din sila. Ang mahalagay ay integridad at kakayahan. Walang halaga ang edad, basta malusog si Justice Carpio Morales.”

-ooo-

“MAY KANDIDATO SI ESCUDERO”: Mula kay Sonny Avila, sa isa pang Facebook group: “Guilty si Escudero ng diskriminasyon. Si Oliver Wendell Holmes ay nasa Korte Suprema ng US hanggang sa siya ay 98 na. May candidate siguro si Escudero, at gusto niyang alisin ang nangungunang kandidato. Pinamunuan ni Melo ang isa sa matagumpay na halalan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, at edad 75 na siya…”
 
-ooo-

“WALANG BATAYAN ANG MGA PAGTUTOL”: Art Catapang, ng Facebook group na “CyberMovment to Stop Mindoro Nickel Project”: “Walang batayan ang pagtutol ni Desierto at Escudero… maliban sa maliwanag na age discrimination. Kung ulianin na si Desierto ay hindi niya masasabi na ganoon din si Justice Carpio… Hindi dapat na tumutol si Escudero dahil lamang (sa isyung ito)…”