There is logic and reason to reports that Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will vie for the position of chief justice when newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro retires in October after 41 days in office.
Carpio is the most senior among the justices. In fact, he has been bypassed twice. A third time would be when he declined his automatic nomination. He said he declined out of delicadeza because he had voted against the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through quo warranto proceedings. He did not want to benefit from what he voted against.
Still, Carpio’s appointment would be in observance of the traditional recognition of seniority.
Carpio’s credentials and integrity are beyond question. His appointment would heal and stabilize the court that showed cracks during the time of Sereno.
The restoration of the seniority rule not only in the Supreme Court but in other sectors of government will go a long way in ensuring a stable government.
Carpio’s appointment as chief justice will be for the good of the Supreme Court.
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The minority in the Senate is warning De Castro against participating in political cases to do away with speculation on why exactly she was appointed by President Duterte.
Inhibit herself, Santa Banana?
Why—when it is her very responsibility to rule on all cases brought before the High Court? If she did not do this, she would be shirking her mandate.
I find it strange that Senate majority leader Franklin Drilon issued this warning while also saying De Castro is a woman of intelligence and integrity.
If she is indeed a woman of intelligence and integrity, all the more should she not inhibit herself from political cases!
De Castro was appointed on the tradition of seniority and meritocracy. As primus inter pares—the first among equals—she knows the right thing to do.
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There is no doubt that with the enactment of the tariffication law which opens the doors for the importation of rice, the National Food Authority will eventually be abolished, and for good reason.
The NFA has lost all credibility as an agency tasked to stabilize the supply and prices of rice in the market.
But look at what is happening today. This is primarily due to the incompetence of those running the NFA. Funds supposedly for importation of rice as buffer stock was instead used to pay multi-billion peso debts. This, to me, constitutes malversation of public funds. Officials should be held accountable.
The existence of the NFA as an instrument of government to stabilize rice prices has become useless. It’s a fact that when government is used to stabilize prices, the opposite happens.
With the enactment of the law, importation is now open to anybody. Local farmers will be protected through tarriffs on imports.
As for NFA officials, they must be charged not only administratively but criminally.
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When I decided to be a journalist, I knew I was making a choice not to be a millionaire.
Being a periodista entails a lot of sacrifice. Journalists put their life on the line to bring the public’s attention to what is wrong in government.
In short, if you don’t place your life in danger, if you don’t want to stay poor, if you don’t want to be sued for libel, then do not be a journalist.
Santa Banana, I have been sued 17 times! I had to apologize four times.
Being a journalist is a calling. The rewards come in the satisfaction at the knowledge that he or she is somehow making a difference.
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The debate over the health of President Duterte is getting to be boring. Critics of the President insist he is ill but Palace spokesmen say he is very healthy, as shown by his frequent public appearances.
I don’t believe the President is seriously sick. Of course he can sometimes be weak. He is 73 years old, after all, and his job is very stressful. But I don’t think the condition is alarming.
Still, to end all speculation, the Palace should once and for all issue a bulletin about the President’s condition.
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The presence of political and military officers in the Israel-Jordan trip of the President is being questioned. Why go with the President when they can make the trip by themselves?
This sets a dangerous—and costly precedent—for a country in dire need of money.
