Two ways of chilling

What does the Corona-inspired term “chilling effect” mean? It has become a favorite expression among his supporters, but his detractors have also adopted it and given it their own interpretation. Now it calls to mind that saying about how different people can view a glass of water: as half-empty, or half-full.

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Yesterday, the Supreme Court released its decision on the controversial purchase of the Precinct Count Optical Scan, better known as PCOS. This is the device that did the counting of the votes in the 2010 election, which the Commission on Election wants to use again for the 2013 polls. Because of so many questions and protests against it from some sectors, some have even gone so far as to seek a temporary restraining order on the purchase of new machines.

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But yesterday, the Supreme Court sitting en banc, voted to allow the COMELEC to go ahead, and the justices gave it an overwhelming nod of 11-3, which is much more than what the Commission on Elections had been hoping. But that may not end there yet, as the protestors and oppositors may seek a reconsideration yet. But, immediately after the SC decision was announced, the backers of ousted SC Chief Justice Renato Corona, grabbed at the chance to call the decision part of the “chilling effect” their idol spoke about.

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And that is where the half-empty, half-full analogy apparently comes in. To the Corona partisans, the decision of the High Court on this case is a result of their fear that Malacañang might be displeased with them, meaning, they are now toeing the line, as a negative action could mean censure from the palace, and that this could be the hallmark of all other controversial cases where the President, or his cabinet members are involved.

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On the other hand, those who consider the ouster of Corona as the best thing that ever happened in the judiciary, define “chilling effect” as the best result that could have come out from the impeachment. Now, not only members of the judiciary, but all government officials, including elected ones, have realized that they cannot get away with their unethical actions, when they cannot account for the wealth they acquire during their tenure in office, or when they fail to comply with the requirements of the Constitution. If that is what the “chills” can accomplish, then let’s have more of it.

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It was amusing to hear about the order to the country’s policemen to get rid of their spare tires, lose weight, and be in the best physical condition for their jobs. Anybody can see that we do have many cops who are pot-bellied and do not look fit for their work, indeed. The obese ones have been given a time limit for getting rid of their extra poundage, or they may be required to go into a crash program designed to make them lose weight. And they had better comply, because, with the reports that President Aquino is planning to appoint Sen. Ping Lacson to head the Department of Interior and Local Government after his term is up, he may be harsher on the fat cops than any other DILG secretary could be.

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The former strongman of Egypt was a pitiful sight when he came into the courtroom to hear his life sentence proclaimed. Now he is reported to be very ill, and had to be defibrillated several times the other day when he seemed to stop breathing. This, while protestors against what they call his “light sentence” continue to slam the court for not dealing him the death sentence. Hosni Mubarak is being blamed for the death of some 860 protestors, and their families also want to see him killed. They may not have long to wait, but this is not the way they want him to die.

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Let’s divert our minds from the robbery of Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas and sit up for the finals of the National Basketball Association that started yesterday. The Oklahoma Thunder, showing great determination and coherence, beat the burning Miami Heat in the first game, 105-94. But that’s only for starters, they still have a long way to go, where the champion will be the one who reaches the fourth win first. Anyway, like many Pinoys, I had been rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers and now couldn’t care less who gets the 2012 crown.*

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