SC must answer LCP raps
February 25, 2011
BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIOLIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly’...” (Leviticus 19:15, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-
LCP THREATENS IMPEACHMENT VS. SC JUSTICES: The Supreme Court must answer threats by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) that it will seek the impeachment of court justices who allegedly maneuvered to reverse their decision on the cityhood of 16 towns, which already became final, after allegedly receiving “secret letters” bearing the name of former Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza.
The high court must explain its side posthaste because the league’s accusations, made through LCP President Oscar Rodriguez, mayor of San Fernando City, Pampanga, and LCP secretary general Hernani Braganza, mayor of Alaminos City, Pangasinan, have the effect of reinforcing charges made by Lauro Vizconde that decisions in the high court could be swayed one way or the other, for huge monetary considerations.
If the Supreme Court will just remain silent on the allegations of the LCP now, Filipinos may not be faulted for thinking that decisions issued by the tribunal for or against them have been the result of horse-trading or negotiated accommodations, for one consideration or another.
-ooo-
PERCEPTIONS OF DOUBLE STANDARD FIRM UP: This latest tirade against the high court is unfortunate, coming as it does on the heels of widespread perception that there is really no justice anymore that could be expected from the judiciary, especially if one is poor or does not have the money to spread around.
Rather than dispelling this widespread perception, Vizconde’s revelations (although being staunchly denied by the concerned justices now) and the LCP’s anguished complaint that the Supreme Court could reverse even its final judgments after receiving “secret letters”, have the combined effect of confirming, even if mistakenly, that justice has a double standard and a high price tag hereabouts.
Something must be done real fast to correct all of these, but the question is, what, really, can be done? Perhaps, all concerned must take inspiration from the Bible, particularly from the Book of Amos, where it is mandated that we must “…maintain justice in the courts…”
If we do not heed what the Bible is saying, and if we do not follow God’s commands written in it, everyone whose hands have been dirtied will surely be punished and completely destroyed, as Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are saying.
-ooo-
BUT CAN BONG MAKE IT? I join those who are congratulating Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in his election as president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. His ascendancy as the undisputed leader of the once-powerful political party is one more feather in his cap as a politician, and proof that his peers recognize his ability to become their leader.
But we will withhold judgment on whether he can really be an effective party president or not, until he makes public his plans on how to make the party regain its old glory and make it the political force that it had been, once upon a time.
---
SC, dapat sagutin ang banta ng LCP
INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…`Huwag ninyong babalintunain ang katarungan; huwag kayong papabor sa mahihirap o kikiling sa mayayaman, at sa halip ay husgahan ninyo ang inyong kapwa ng parehas’…” (Levitico 19:15, Bibliya).
-ooo-
LCP, NAGBANTA NG IMPEACHMENT VS. SC JUSTICES: Dapat sagutin ng Korte Suprema ang bantang ipa-iimpeach ng League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) ang mga justices na bumaligtad sa kanilang desisyon sa isyu ng pagiging lungsod ng 16 na bayan kahit na ang desisyong ito ay pinal na, matapos diumano nilang tumanggap ng mga “sikretong sulat” na nagtataglay ng pangalan ni dating Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza.
Kailangang ipaliwanag agad ang panig nito sapagkat ang akusasyon ng LCP sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pangulo, si Mayor Oscar Rodriguez ng San Fernando City, Pampanga, at secretary general, si Mayor Hernani Braganza ng Alaminos City, Pangasinan, ay maituturing na nagpapalakas lalo sa akusasyon naman ni Lauro Vizconde na ang mga desisyon sa Korte Suprema ay maaaring maniobrahin, dahil sa pera.
Kung tatahimik lamang ang Korte sa mga alegasyong ito ng LCP, hindi natin mapipigilan ang sambayanan sa pag-iisip na ang mga desisyon nga ng hukuman na pumapabor o laban kaninuman ay nag-ugat lamang sa negosasyon.
-ooo-
PANANAW SA DOUBLE STANDARD, LUMAKAS PA: Ang pinakahuling banat na ito sa mataas na hukuman ay kalunos-lunos, lalo na at nagaganap ito sa gitna ng malawakang pananaw na wala ng tunay na katarungang makakamtan mula sa hudikatura, lalo na kung ikaw ay mahirap at walang perang maipamumudmod.
Sa halip na mawala ang pananaw na ito, ang mga akusasyon ni Vizconde (bagamat itinanggi na ng mga sangkot na justices) at ang reklamo naman ng LCP na kayang baligtarin ng Korte Suprema maging ang mga pinal ng desisyon nito matapos tumanggap ng “sikretong sulat”, ay lalo lamang nagpapalakas (bagamat mali) sa paniniwalang may dalawang antas at may bayad ang hustisya dito.
Dapat talagang kumilos ang hukuman ng mabilisan upang mabago ang lahat ng ito, subalit ang tanong: ano nga ba ang puwedeng gawin? Marahil, nararapat lamang balingan natin ang Bibliya, lalo na sa Aklat ni Amos, na nagsasabing “…panatiliin ninyo ang katarungan sa mga hukuman…”
Kung hindi natin pakikinggan ang Bibliya, at hindi natin susundin ang mga utos ng Diyos na nakasulat doon, ang lahat ng nadungisan ang mga kamay ay parurusahan at lilipulin, gaya ng sinasabi ng Deuteronomio 28:15-68.
-ooo-
PERO, OK KAYA SI BONG? Kasama ako sa mga bumabati kay Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. sa kanyang pagkakahalal bilang pangulo ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Ang kanyang pagkakapili bilang tanging pinuno ng dati ay makapangyarihang partido ay isa na namang karangalan sa kanyang pagiging politiko, at patunay na kinikilala na nga siya ng kanyang mga kasamahan bilang lider nila.
Pero, hindi ko muna siya huhusgahan kung magiging epektibo nga ba siyang lider o hindi, hanggang hindi niya inilalabas ang kanyang mga kongkretong plano para makuhang muli ng partido ang dating kapangyarihan nito.
Posted by Batas Internet Media. Posted In : KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS
