Pro bono for pogi points?

Some people say they sympathize with the head of the National Bureau of Investigation, lawyer Magtanggol Gatdula, who was unceremoniously fired by President Benigno Aquino III. Gatdula received his walking papers in a one-sentence letter signed by the President, telling him he was being dismissed. That was a move that took a lot of people by surprise. Why was there no charging or probing? Why the instant dismissal from a very important and sensitive position?

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Those who sympathize with Gatdula claim that he was not given the usual “due process.” They probably mean that he should have been charged, made to go through a hearing with all its trappings. But I think our laws are clear, especially those concerning workers. Loss of trust and confidence is something that can send out an employee without much ado. An employer does not have to bear with a worker in whom he no longer has these two very vital elements in a decent working relationship.

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A teary-eyed Gatdula has been quoted as saying that he is going to fight to clear his name. Good for him. He should do that, so that, whatever happens to that case happening in his office, he can say with a clear conscience that he had absolutely nothing to do with it. For those who came in late, there was this case of a Japanese woman, a fugitive from the Yakuza, whose father had been reportedly killed by the syndicate, that was also hunting her to kill her. The family with whom she sought refuge, turned her over to the NBI, believing she would be safer there.

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As the reports went later, some people in the NBI began extorting money from her until neither she nor her original saviours could keep up. When the story broke, everybody wondered why the NBI had detained her, since this was an immigration case, and the proper venue for her is the Bureau of Immigration. Now, we do not know what part Gatdula had in detaining and mulcting the woman, but since he is the head of the office, he got the ax, too.

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As for the presidential decision, I think it was meant to send the unmistakeable message to all government appointees that they do not have the privilege of civil service employees who are covered by laws entitling them to this “due process” privilege. The one good thing we can glean from this act of the President is that it may strike some fear in the hearts of all other appointed officials, especially those enjoying many privileges, about their vulnerability. This must be unknown to some of them, as previous administrations did not exercise it.

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Even if one is trying to be fair and unbiased while watching the developments in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, one could not help being amazed at the disclosures in those statements of assets, liabilities and networth (now known in short as SALN), where so many entries seem indefensible. For one, there is the entry that he has purchased a unit in a certain uppity condominium, as well as THREE parking lots in it. But that same SALN does not show any vehicle owned by him at the time. So what were those parking lots for? And yet he says that the focus on his SALN is “malicious”! All right, count us among the malicious ones.

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There is also something in the observation of a newspaper reader that there is something suspicious in the claims of some of Corona’s lawyers that their defense for him is “pro bono”, or FREE, no charge. These are all well-known legal practitioners who probably have cases elevated to the high court, and may again have more in the future. Will the pro bono memories not influence whatever ruling Corona et al may issue him via the Senate-Court – in case he is acquitted? Are these pro bono lawyers not acting wisely and earning pogi points?

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On a lighter vein, last night the wedding of Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad and Rep. Roman Romulo was slated to take place. These are two beautiful and decent young people who truly deserve each other. Let’s wish them the best and that they be happy always, especially for Shalani, who was gone through a lot since her childhood, but who has weathered everything, and met her real Prince Charming at last.*

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