Kudos to Drilon and
the four judges

We often overlook our judges. The chair is not the best place to impress the public with one's actions and decisions. Judges are supposed to be the epitome of probity and, hence, they cannot dramatize their activities or good deeds.

However, sooner or later, one gets the pat on the back from one's superiors. As in the case of Judge Ray Alan Drilon of Branch 41 of the Bacolod Regional Trial Court. His appointment as executive judge effective March 1, is a tribute to Judge Drilon. Although only seven years as RTC judge, Drilon received the tribute from his superiors. He deserves the applause from his students at the University of St. La Salle and the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.

On the other hand, we are also happy and proud that four Negros RTC judges have been among the 64 nominated for associate justice of the Court of Appeals to replace Roberto Barrios who died last Feb. 18.

The four are Judges Henry Arles of the Kabankalan RTC, Anita Chua and Edgardo de los Santos of Bacolod, and Renato Muñez of Cadiz City.

Whoever gets the nomination, our congratulations to the four Negros judges for having been named as potential CA nominees.

***

There are some holes in the assassination plot exposed by Murcia Mayor Sonny Coscolluela. In the first place, how come he did not file the complaint against the alleged plotters before going on air about that plan, including the presentation of the alleged hitman and his conscience-stricken reaction to the plot?

The other side of it. The alleged principal brains, Lina Lazanas was reportedly a carinderia owner. In short, where was she going to get the P100,000 for the payoff? That does not mean that a carinderia owner could not come up with the amount. It simply points out that she must have been backed up by a bigger group to be able to negotiate the doing away of Coscolluela.

Anyway, the more important thing, is that Sonny should file the complaint with the police and the National Bureau of Investigation. Better, the NBI. As pointed out by Murcia Councilor Helen Clavecillas, she should have been tagged as the principal and not the carinderia owner. And, more pointedly, she challenged Coscolluela to charge her in court. And she vowed to file a civil suit for damages against the Murcia mayor if the court finds that he could not substantiate his allegations against her and the other members of the alleged plot.

***

Vice Mayor Renecito Novero did the only acceptable proposal to solve the impasse over the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation tussle with the city government - have it brought to court so that an impartial and neutral arbiter can resolve the issue of how much BREDCO can really be asked to pay the city government.

Every now and then, some city official would threaten to throw the book at Palanca for reportedly not having paid the city what it wants. The problem with that is that the city has been asking an exorbitant adjustment of rental. So, the only way to resolve the issue is to bring it to court. That also frees Novero from the charge of favoring Palanca, his client, because the court is supposed to be a neutral arbiter of the issue.

Shows you that Novero is really a good lawyer.

This one was a texted message to Jimmy Araneta. A politician died. The first thing that happened, he met with St. Peter and asked to enter heaven. But the latter told him to see both heaven and hell and to make his choice afterwards.

When he reached hell, the politico found himself entranced by the relaxed and posh lifestyle complete with golf, etc. Later, when he went to heaven, he found himself bored by religious seminars, chanting, and other rituals.

Later, he meets St. Peter. And what's your decision? "I prefer hell," the politician said. Peter accedes. But as soon as he gets back to hell, the politico started asking where the cushy and luxurious lifestyle he had seen the previous visit were.

Ah, answered Satan, that was because we were still campaigning for your vote.

***

Kudos to Judge Rodney Bolunia of the Cadiz Regional Trial Court. He came up with a score of having meted a two-year imprisonment against two residents for cutting down trees in Barangay Gawahon, Victorias City, in November 28, last year.

The duo - Joemarie and Wilfredo Pedoche - were also ordered by the court to pay a fine of P3,000 each. Both, residents of Caduhaan, Cadiz City, pleaded guilty to the violation of the Revised Forest Code of the Philippines. That's not the point. It is that they are about the first group of violators who have been sentenced to imprisonment for violation of the forestry code.*

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