Quits for P'Noy and Corona?

It was a terrible shock to hear of the murder of Judge Henry Arles last night. Arles was one of the most respected judges in the country, being one of the rare ones who disposed of the cases assigned to him quickly. It is difficult to understand who would have the motive to assassinate him, but perhaps someone who did not agree with one of his decisions felt angry enough to do it? Early reports indicated that the gunman could have been a hired gun. Let us wish the police luck in identifying and arresting the mastermind.

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At the STAR office, the report about the fate of Judge Arles created quite an upheaval because we had almost finished the business for the day when the report came. Ironically, it was Carla who was in Manila for the Philippine Press Institute activity, who first got wind of it. A friend of the STAR, a lawyer, also called and updated us on the case, so we had to change our front page and shift other stories to inside pages. But that is how it is in a job like ours, and luckily, our staff always prove equal to the task.

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Now they call them the BIG FOUR, meaning the four biggest wanted suspects who have been evading the law quite successfully for months now. They are retired general Jovito Palparan, the Palawan brothers, former governor Joel, and incumbent Mayor Coron Reyes who are facing murder charges, and convicted murderer, Congressman Ruben Ecleo of Dinagat, who continue to thumb their noses at the law. I think there is much sense in the suggestion of another former general, Romeo Acop, that separate teams, or task forces, be assigned to concentrate on each of the suspects to improve the chances of nabbing them.

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I believe, however, that they should not assign military men or officers to the team that will pursue Palparan. Being a superior officer, the group chasing him might feel they have to salute him first before handcuffing him. That might give him a chance to either flee, or fight back. He could even pull rank on them, you know. I wonder how they treated those other generals, the one with the talkative wife and lazy sons, and those who had too much money while attending a conference in Russia, during their arrests.

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E tu, Rosa? Now the “informal” nominations for national artist of the year are increasing, and the latest to be named is former actress and now Philippine National Red Cross icon, Rosa Rosal. Now, that is one very worthy candidate for the honor. A much-awarded actress, both locally and internationally, Rosa Rosal later got involved in the blood bank project of the PNRC and has never been the same since then.

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Although she appeared as contravida, or villainess, in some of her movies, she was a very decent person in her personal life and was one of the few actresses who never became the object of scandals. Her work at the Red Cross is legendary. Indeed, she deserves the honor. But it looks as if, judging from the endorsements he is getting, Dolphy the comedian, is the favorite. But those nominating or endorsing them do not even have a vote, or a say in the final selection, as there are proper agencies to do that.

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Baguio City keeps getting into the news recently. After the big story about the protests against the alleged cutting of trees by a mall, here comes another one involving the personnel of the Hall of Justice there. Seems it was discovered that several employees monkey around with their time records and some were even caught on video punching the time in on their bundy clock for others who do not report or who came in late. That is quite a major offense as far as the Civil Service Commission is concerned. Can such indiscretion be appealed to their boss in the Supreme Court?

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The news yesterday said that the Supreme Court has rejected the appeal for reconsideration of the Hacienda Luisita owners, among them President Aquino, on its November ruling. Well, that could make it even stevens. Chief Justice Renato Corona has been quoted as saying that his impeachment was caused by the decision on the hacienda. Now President Aquino can say that the unfavorable SC ruling is due to the impeachment of Corona. Meanwhile the latest survey says that most Filipinos believe Chief Justice Corona is guilty. What matters, however, is what most of the senators judging the case believe.*

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