Missing Miriam

I think I will take a cue from President Aquino. I heard that he does not watch the proceedings of the impeachment trial on TV, and just goes about his usual business for the day. Maybe he just waits for the recap on the late night reports, or maybe his staff cues him. But really, it gets tiresome, watching the lawyers trying to outpoint each other. I tried it the first two sessions, and found it much too tiresome.

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It has to be admitted, though, that this is going to be a contest between the tyros and the pros. Just watching the expression on the face of former justice and defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas as he listens to the arguments of the defense is a study in condescension. One could just imagine him thinking, “Wait till I get done with you”. I guess this is because, having been “up there” as far as the court is concerned, he is sure he has all the answers down pat already. The prosecuting congressmen must be on their toes all the while if they don’t want Cuevas to cut them down to size each time they talk.

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But yesterday, it looked as if even the know-it-all Cuevas seemed startled by the statements of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano about the so-called prohibition on the calling of family members to testify at a trial. Ceyatano cited cases when such could be allowed, lifting the hopes of the prosecution. However, when the Senators went out to deliberate on it, they returned to vote, and shot the suggestion down.

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Well, yesterday the defense scored because the prosecutors tried to jump in presenting their complaints, and announced they would take up Number Two, about the properties of the chief justice that they considered most important. Not so fast, the defense protested, in effect, let’s go by the numbers. Alas for Rep. Barzaga, who was presenting it, he admitted that they had prepared for Number Two, and could not take up Number One yet.

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By the way, it’s too bad that Senator Miriam Santiago is sick and has not joined the senators judging the impeachment case now. La Miriam is said to be suffering from high blood pressure andvertigo and simply cannot go to the Senate-Court. I can just imagine how she will liven up the proceedings with her inimitable pronouncements and body language. Also not there, but may be present today is Sen. Loren Legarda who is still flying back from the U.S. where she attended to the surgery of her nanny.

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But it is interesting to note the dramatics from both camps. The Pro groups carry placards calling for the ouster of the chief justice, while employees of the courts and the judges are evenwearing black to show that they are mourning. And they insist on the innocence of their boss who is facing no less than eight charges, any one of which could spell his doom. Some say they can hardly believe that Renato Corona could stand all those cases against him, but if he could stand the criticism against his appointment that one midnight, wasn’t that a sign that he could stand anything?

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Meanwhile, the sports community cannot seem to let the subject of a Pacquiao-Mayweather encounter go, and even the international media continues to harp on it. The latest is that Top Rank head Bob Arum seems to be inclined to have the match held in Dubai. Dubai? Yes, the Middle East country, and don’t look surprised. That is where the money is, you know. Arum does not like Las Vegas this time because it does not have a venue big enough to hold the thousands expected to watch. Seems Dubai is ready for that, and people there are very excited over the prospect. And note that there are some 500,000 Filipinos there, who will surely pray novenas for their Pacman’s victory.

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There’s good news for city and town councilors, though. The President has just signed into law the bill that would confer instant civil service eligibility on them, subject to some qualifications. Those who have completed three terms, and possess a bachelor’s degree are entitled to Career Service professional eligibility that is equivalent to first grade. Those who do not have college degrees, but have acquired at least 72 units of college studies, can also acquire career service sub-professional eligibility which, I think, is rated second grade. That should ensure them permanent jobs in government even after they “graduate”.*

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