The ongoing impeachment trial of Antonio Corona is a political sarsuela that characterizes the fabric of Philippine politics.
According to pundits, the proceeding was orchestrated by Malacanang with senators and congressmen as leading actors with the chief justice as the villain and the Filipino people as the audience.
As expected, the denouement was not to ferret out the truth but for the characters to aggrandize themselves in preparation of the next election. The ways the actors behave in the set of congress suggest that all they wanted is to become the next president of the Philippines. Maximum exposure is therefore necessary to condition the viewers that they are the best person to lead the nation after Aquino leaves Malacanang. Grandstanding may not be the correct term but positioning may be appropriate. Why, even Leon Guerrero rises to the podium to have a piece of that elusive political marketing which happens on rare occasions? Unfortunately, while the presiding judge is getting most of the exposure, he is too old to aim for a shot in the palace by the Pasig River. But this is an opportunity for him to rectify the perception of history about him as the willing agent of dictatorship when martial law ruled the country. As to the other senators, they don’t really care about how the proceeding was conducted as they careened to the side of a lady senator when a private prosecutor covered his ears with his palms in protest of what appears to be an unruly behaviour of a judge. Whether a judge or a prosecutor, each is covered by the lawyer’s oath to be courteous at all times with all parties in a case to maintain the dignity of the legal profession. Being a judge is therefore no excuse. But no single senator rose to the occasion to canvass this issue even from a former human rights lawyer who seemed to enjoy the perks of his office and now forget the people who voted him as a last hope for a responsible politician and a responsible government. The impeachment trial is a lot of brouhaha akin to a derailed train.
The prosecutors have nothing to lose in filing the impeachment case. For sure, they will receive their wages in due time. From the manner they were drafted, the articles of impeachment suggest that an external force was behind it and no amount of delay was necessary. For a young legislator to act as the chief prosecutor speaks volume. Despite of his inexperience, he accepted the challenge with bravado and stepped up his plate with gusto. The colour of his parachute, however, showed his legal SALN (statement of assets and liabilities and net worth) nay prowess which backfired and the articles of impeachment were cut into pieces. Topping the bar examinations is not even a guarantee of brilliance. The courage of private prosecutors could not be discounted either. Why, even a maritime lawyer volunteered his services for free? A maritime lawyer is deemed a de cahon lawyer. He makes his pleadings as if he is just filling the blanks of a standard special power of attorney and does his examination in chief and cross by the same questions he had when he first defended a cargo ship from damaged cargoes. The problem with Philippine lawyers is that they think they can litigate on everything except barangay cases which prohibit representation by lawyers.
Like Marimar, the Filipino audience embraced with excitement this new episode of Philippine politics which gives them a new subject for conversation or oral fisticuff while the men are drinking their favourite SM beer, while Ricky Reyes is experimenting on whether blue is appropriate for the hair of a known spokesman, or while strutting along the streets of Bocaue.
The leading characters, with fanfare, have shown the world how to try a serious matter in a jocular manner without considering the impression that the cold impartiality of a neutral judge has been bargained. Whether the impeachment case against the chief justice is meritorious or not is no longer the issue but whether a reasonable decision or judgment, absent any biases or prejudices or colour or affiliation, could be obtained.
In the end, the loser is Philippine society which is again showcased as a jeepney gone wild.
(The writer is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He formerly wrote articles for the Peoples’ Journal and its broadsheet The Courier. Please direct comments to rignaciolaw@gmail.com or contact (905) 597-0963)