Echoes From
BY JOHNNY DAYANG

Upholding the majesty of the law

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that indeed President Arroyo can appoint the next Chief Justice, let’s put the controversial issue to rest. Any insinuation to the contrary is not only unfair to the highest court of the land, but also to the appointing authority, no less than President Arroyo herself.

No doubt, the issue of who succeeds outgoing Chief Justice Reynato Puno has polarized a nation reeling from the debilitating effects of the May 10 national elections.As usual, grandstanding politicians sensationalized the appointment of the next Chief Justice. Some went to the extent of leaving it to the incoming president. That’s indeed a dangerous proposition.

Puno is bowing out on May 14, while Arroyo’s six-year term lapses on June 30. What happens between those dates is a critical gap in the administration of justice. Being a democracy, our country can ill afford to have a headless high court.

With all sorts of threats, perceived or otherwise, needing judicial intervention, any deferment in appointing Puno’s successor unnecessarily creates a climate of instability. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort, the final arbiter of justice. It is the bedrock of democracy.

Succumbing to the idea of deferring the next Chief Justice’s appointment lends credence to the maxim that justice delayed is justice denied. One presidential candidate even has the gall to say that if elected, he will not recognize President Arroyo’s appointee as Chief Justice. That smacks of ill-will and immaturity.

Puno, by the way, is the first recipient of the Press Freedom Award of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. A prolific writer himself, the award was in recognition of his immense contributions to upholding the constitutionally enshrined freedom of the press and expression.

Firm and humane in his dispensation of justice, Puno exemplified the iconic virtues of humility, fairness and dignity. Such enduring legacy he bequeaths to the High Court is a tough act to follow and emulate in the realm of public service. He’s best remembered for pursuing the innovative “justice on wheels” program, especially for the poor litigants.

With his impending exit from the Supreme Court, Puno will most likely devote time to his public advocacies. One of these is his crusade for a “moral revolution.”