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Friday, October 22, 2004
News(boy) Sense: 100 lawyers
By Cheking Seares
Skeptics had a field day when the news story first ran that 100 lawyers would take the place of murdered prosecutor Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco.
What? A hundred lawyers want to give their services for free in privately prosecuting Ruben Ecleo Jr.?
Of course, not all the hundred can be taken in. No judge will agree to so many lawyers handling one case. The ritual of entry of appearances alone will eat up lots of court time. And imagine how the proceeding hobbles with so many lawyers speaking or wanting to speak.
Scare talk.
Where will that place the regular prosecutors who represent the State whose will is violated when a crime is committed?
The presence of so many private prosecutors will sideline further the regular prosecutors who theoretically control the prosecution.
Well, as it turns out, the offer of 100 lawyers may just be scare-Ecleo talk.
Down to 40.
First, the coalition of the willing shrunk to 40, a number which coincides with the size of Ali Baba's band of thieves, the sort of trivia jokesmiths who find lawyers irresistible aren't likely to pass up.
Then, not one of the 40, as of Wednesday, has stepped up yet to translate intent to action.
But trust them. They will turn up, though not in droves. Lawyers need to be asked, lest they be accused of ambulance chasing--incidentally, a trick which lawyers can do even without any ambulance running down the street.
(October 22, 2004 issue)
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