The associate justices of the Supreme Court on Thursday showed compassion to the plight of Filipinos grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by donating 14 tons of assorted vegetables to several community pantries in Metro Manila, which also coincided with the celebration of its 120th anniversary today, June 11.
The SC Public Information Office said the initiative and the funding used to buy the large quantity of vegetables came from the pockets of the 14 incumbent magistrates.
“On the eve of the Supreme Court’s 120th anniversary, the 14 incumbent magistrates of the Supreme Court, using their personal resources and working collectively, purchased more than 14 tons of vegetables from farmers to be distributed to various community pantries,” the PIO statement stressed.
It said a portion of the vegetables would be given to the indigent ward of the Philippine General Hospital and the Manila Police District.
Among those present at yesterday’s event were SC Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Ramon Paul Hernando, Mario Lopez, Edgardo Delos Santos, and Jhosep Lopez.
“I think most of the Justices were able to drop by at different times,” SC spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said.
Interestingly, journalists covering the judiciary noticed the polo shirt worn by Justice Leonen, which was printed with the words “Bar Muna Bago Jowa”.
Leonen is the 2020/2021 Bar chairman. The next Bar exams has been scheduled in November.