Want to work in Myanmar?

Senate President and impeachment court presiding judge Juan Ponce Enrile wants Chief Justice Renato Corona to come and testify. President Benigno Aquino III wants Corona to come to the witness stand in his own defense. But why does his lead counsel, Serafin Cuevas, refuse to put his number one witness on the stand? Is he afraid he will incriminate himself? But he is the head of the country’s highest court. He should know what will implicate him and what will not.

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One of the spokespersons of the defense team said they fear that some people may ridicule the chief justice or embarrass him in case he appears. Is Corona that onion-skinned? One wouldn’t think so, considering how he even stuck to the midnight appointment from President Arroyo, over the protestations of so many concerned groups, including members of the Senate and the House of Representatives themselves. I’m not saying that he is thick-skinned, but he does seem impervious to anything so long as he keeps his post. So why prevent him from giving his own side, as Enrile seems to believe? Are they afraid he may entrap himself?

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As for poor prosecution lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, who committed the unpardonable crime of covering his ears in order not to hear the wisdom and infallibility of the oration of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the Senator-judges have not yet decided on his fate, but it is obvious that some of them are making their recommendations with tongue-in-cheek. I doubt, however, if they will talk in the same way face to face with La Miriam, who will either cut them down with the rapier that is her tongue, or they may be blamed in case her blood pressure rises.

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As for that blood pressure, it is the reason being given why the senadora cannot take her oath as a member of the International Criminal Court on March 9. Because of her ailment, and the belief that such a long plane trip as that which will bring her to the ICC headquarters, in New York, I think, may be bad for her, she has been excused from the ceremony, and may have to be sworn in by herself later. Before then, we can only warn the other members of the court to be wary. Miriam Santiago is coming, en garde!

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In the meantime, charges are already being filed against the members of the Lambda Rho fraternity believed responsible for the brutal hazing that killed Marvin Reglos, a young law freshman who wanted to join their group. The police have, so far, accounted for about 10 members and reports say the charges against them are murder and violation of the anti-hazing law. Although not a lawyer, I wonder why it is “murder” that the police have decided to file against them. Surely their lawyers will later argue that there had been no premeditation to kill Reglos?

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While I condemn those who struck the blows that caused the death of Marvin Reglos, I also cannot help pitying them for what they have done to their own lives. Just imagine, they will be spending the next few years facing the charges and trying to get away from being imprisoned, maybe for life, if convicted. What about their plans, and their parents’ hopes for them, since they are law students? Will they still be able to pursue their studies when they are in jail, or even while the trials are going on? What a tragedy, what a loss!

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Meanwhile, it is wonderful to hear that the once repressed state of Myanmar is now opening itself to the world again. After years of being ruled by a military junta, the country is now unfolding, and in fact, will be holding real elections soon. We don’t know the extent American influence had in this virtual “liberation”, but the fact that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was among the very first foreign officials to come to the country, speaks volumes.

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There is also some interesting note for Filipinos in this new development. Already several of our countrymen and women have crossed over and have gotten into well-paying jobs there. Reports say that teachers, particularly, are needed in great numbers. So, our own mentors who cannot find work here, or are not contented with the compensation in their own towns and cities, should perhaps take a chance and apply for work in Myanmar. Not only will they help themselves, they will also be helping a once-abused country and people get back on their feet.*

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