There are mixed reactions to the appointment of second-most-senior associate justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro as chief justice. The Yellows and the militants are still fulminating over the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
I believe what President Duterte did in appointing Sereno was an act of giving credibility to the Supreme Court and the judiciary as a whole. Seniority must be a priority. This was a practice broken only by former President Benigno Aquino III when he appointed Sereno.
What Aquino did was an insult to the senior justices of the high court. We later found out that Sereno was not even qualified to be chief justice anyway because she had failed to submit her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
De Castro only has 41 days to serve as chief justice, but she can do a lot.
I don’t believe her appointment was payback. President Duterte is mindful of Supreme Court traditions.
Insofar as the impeachment case against the justices who voted for the ouster of Sereno through quo warranto, what these justices did was just to uphold the law.
I do not see the logic of the impeachment case, which is now with the House Committee on Justice.
How could those seven justices have committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when they were just performing their mandate?
* * *
Every morning I go over five national broadsheets, reading the headlines, then the opinion pages, and then the inside pages.
In the society pages, I see the same names—except some affluent Chinese-Filipino tycoon throwing a party every now and then.
I also see consuls in diplomatic functions.
I believe society pages deviate from the role of media in bringing news to readers. They only emphasize the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Media then become a tool for propagating conspicuous consumption.
During martial law, President Marcos did away with the society pages because they created dissatisfaction among the poor.
Speaking of honorary consuls— would you believe they can import luxury goods tax-free?
I am told this is a big racket since they sell to different outlets. I know of one consul who has high-end wine shops. He definitely knows how to use his privilege!
There are a lot of shenanigans going on with this privilege. The Department of Foreign Affairs should look into this.
* * *
Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said in a statement that the nation must move on from the days of martial law, amid so many problems hounding the nation today.
Former Senator Bongbong Marcos, her brother, echoed this.
It appears, however, that the Yellows will not allow this. They insist that the Marcoses must apologize and must be held accountable.
My gulay, they are stuck in time!
I read what my colleague, former Ambassador to Greece Bobi Toglao, wrote. He has decided to move on. My gulay, if Tiglao, who was himself a victim of martial law, can move on, why can’t the others?
It’s true we should not forget the past. But we cannot blame the past for what we are experiencing today. We need forgiveness and unity.
* * *
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay has come out with an ambitious transport system for her city. This could well be her legacy. She is up for reelection next year.
The city government and a private consortium expect to begin construction of a $3.7-million subway system in the city’s financial district.
In fact, the 20-kilometer underground train is set to be bidded out next month. Makati will not spend a single centavo on the project.
The intercity subway is supposed to be completed in 2025. It will have air-conditioned stations and can accommodate 700,000 passengers daily.
The project was an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership and a joint venture of foreign and local companies led by IRC Properties Inc.
In fact, the Swiss challenge shall be completed on Sept. 24. The Makati government is inviting other bidders to make an offer.
Mayor Binay is the perfect example of a local executive who thinks out of the box.