Of lawyers, and due process in Maguindanao case
November 23, 2010
BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIOEFFECTIVE AND SLOPPY LAWYERS---THE DIFFERENCE: When a lawyer takes up the cause of a client, he is either effective, or sloppy. You will know that the lawyer is effective if the other party starts hitting and destroying the lawyer of his or her adversary. And you will know that the lawyer is sloppy if the adverse party is happy with him (or her).
So, what can the lawyer, who is being hit because of his work, do? Simply pray to God, and be assured that, even if he is destroyed, God in His great omniscience knows the heart of everyone, and will surely bring to judgment every man, whether the high and the mighty, for his every act, whether good or bad, whether done in public or in secret.
This is what Ecclesiastes 12: 14 of the Holy Bible says: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” In fact, judgment and retribution can come even while those who did evil are still alive, like being frustrated in their most burning desires and most consuming ambitions in life.
And woe unto those who did evil, who lied in the things they did, for, after retribution was given them while they are still alive, they also will be thrown in the lake of burning sulfur as their eternal destination (see Revelations 21:8 of the Bible).
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SEN. LEGARDA MUST READ THE BIBLE RE: CLIMATE CHANGE: I really wish to commend Sen. Loren Legarda for her pioneering efforts to minimize or mitigate the risks and damage that natural disasters caused by climate change will bring to our country and our people. But I hope she can take time out to read the Bible.
I am asking Loren to read the Bible more regularly because that would make her fight against climate change more effective. In its Deuteronomy 28:15, 22-23, the Bible provides the reason why the world is having a pernicious climate change, even as it gives us one of the most effective means to combat climate change and global warming. Give it a try, Madam Senator, so you can fulfill your destiny as an ultimate leader of this country.
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AMPATUANS DESERVE DUE PROCESS TOO: Many will perhaps misunderstand me for what I am going to say here, considering my dual role as a media practitioner and as a law practitioner, but let me say it just the same: while mediamen and lawyers died in the now infamous November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, there is a need to hear the other side, too.
Due process, even in the face of a mountain of incriminating evidence, must still be given the Ampatuans and their co-accused in the case. As a legal philosopher once said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it”.
Convict the Ampatuans if we must, as well as their co-accused, and impose the utmost penalty due the crimes committed, but let us hear what they have to say also. That is the very foundation upon which Philippine democracy is built and is supposed to function.
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Mga abogado, at due process sa Maguindanao case
MAHUSAY AT WALANG KUWENTANG MGA ABOGADO: Sa paghawak ng abogado sa kanyang kaso, maaaring epektibo siya o walang kuwenta. Malalaman ng lahat na ang abogado ay epektibo kung ang kalaban ng kanyang kliyente ay kikilos upang sirain siya bilang abogado At malalaman ng lahat na walang kuwenta ang abogado kung ang kalaban ay natutuwa sa kanya.
Ano, kung ganon, ang magagawa ng isang abogadong sinisira dahil sa kanyang pagiging abogado? Simple lang: manalangin siya sa Diyos, at magtiwalang kahit nasira siya, ang Diyos na nakakaalam sa puso ng lahat ng tao ay kikilos upang hukumin ang lahat ng nilalang, ke mataas o makapangyarihan, sa kanilang mga gawain, mabuti man o masama, hayag man o lihim.
Ito ang sinasabi ng Mangangaral 12:14 ng Bibliya: “Ang lahat ng ating gawa, hayag man o lihim, mabuti man o masama, ay ipagsusulit natin sa Diyos.” Sa totoo lang, ang pagsusulit at kaparusahan ay dumarating kahit buhay pa ang gumawa ng masama, gaya ng pagka-unsiyami sa mga pinakamimithing mga pangarap at ambisyon sa buhay.
At kawawa naman ang mga gumawa ng masama, na nagsinungaling sa kanilang mga gawain, sapagkat kahit na pinarusahan na sila noong nabubuhay pa sila, itatapon pa din sila sa lawa ng kumukulong asupre kung saan doon na sila mananahan habang panahon (basahin po ang Pahayag 21:8 ng Bibliya).
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SEN. LEGARDA, DAPAT MAGBASA NG BIBLIYA UKOL SA CLIMATE CHANGE: Nais kong tunay na batiin si Sen. Loren Legarda sa kanyang mga pagsusumikap na bawasan o di kaya ay lubusang patigilin ang banta at pinsalang dulot ng mga natural na kalamidad bunga ng climate change sa ating bansa at sambayanan. Pero umaasa akong sana naman ay magbasa siya ng Bibliya.
Hinihingi ko kay Loren na magbasa ng Bibliya dahil magiging mas epektibo ang kanyang kampanya laban sa climate change. Sa Deuteronomio 28:15, 22-23, ibinibigay ng Bibliya ang rason kung bakit may mapaminsalang climate change, at ipinakikita din nito ang mga pinaka-epektibong kaparaanan sa paglaban ng climate change. Pakisubukan po Madam Senator, para mapasa-inyo ang kapalaran bilang punong lider ng bansa.
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AMPATUAN, DAPAT PAKINGGAN DIN: Marami marahil ang di makakaintindi sa aking sasabihin ngayon, dahil na rin sa aking pagiging nasa media at pagiging abogado, pero sasabihin ko pa rin ito: bagamat maraming mga mediamen at abogado ang namatay sa Maguindanao massacre noong Nobyembre 23, 2009, kailangan ding pakinggan natin ang kabilang panig, batay sa prinsipyo ng due process.
Ang due process, kahit sa harap ng mga bundok-bundok na katibayan ng kasalanan, ay kailangang maibigay pa din sa mga Ampatuans at sa kanilang mga kasamang akusado. Gaya ng sinabi ng isang mahusay na legal philosopher, “di man ako katig sa sasabihin mo, pero ipagtatanggol ko ang karapatang mong sabihin ito.”
Sentensiyahan natin ang mga Ampatuan kung kailangan, at ibigay sa kanila ang pinakamabigat na parusa sa krimeng maaaring ginawa nila, pero pakinggan din muna natin ang kanilang panig. Ito ang pundasyon ng demokrasya ng Pilipinas.
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Posted by Batas Internet Media. Posted In : KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS
