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Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Wenceslao: A problem like Carillo
By Bong O. Wenceslao
Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, or should I say his high-profile activities, is one good argument against allowing public officials to hold on to their private jobs. He is a lawyer, and that’s a problem. In some instances, he has surfaced when police make arrests or file cases, not to side with law enforcers but to assist those nabbed---his clients.
Consider the most recent. He was there after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 raided some shops for allegedly selling fake whitening cream. He is the legal counsel of one of the shop owners. At the Palace of Justice last Monday, he accompanied a trader who posted bail for the charge of illegally possessing a gun.
Carillo blankets these acts with the phrase “upholding justice” or any of its variant. In that CIDG raid, he claimed he went there just to inform his client what a search warrant is all about. In helping another businessman post bail, he claimed that his client was innocent. But whether “justice was upheld” in both instances is still debatable.
First off, I wouldn’t have any problem with that “upholding justice” claim if he did what he just did for free. The biggest test of a lawyer’s commitment to the cause of justice is when he pursues it without thinking of personal gain. But if Carillo’s services are paid, that’s another thing altogether---all this talk about upholding justice crumbles.
Another thing. Is it possible to separate Carillo, the lawyer, from Carillo, the councilor? Under ideal circumstances, yes. But our situation is far from ideal. The Cebu City Police Office, for example, no matter how much its officers will deny it, is beholden to Cebu City Hall. Councilors even inspect police stations like it is their hacienda.
Note, then, how awkward would it feel for a policeman to arrest somebody whose lawyer also happens to be one of the City Hall top guns. Conversely, what would those who run afoul with the law do to strengthen their posture against cops? Hire a lawyer who happens to be a councilor. In this setup, wouldn’t the quest for justice be stymied?
Of course, this problem is not limited to Carillo and other councilors who are also lawyers. I am sure other legislators have used, at one time or another, their government post to serve their private jobs. My only hope is that, since the law already gives leeway to councilors, public pressure will shame them into acting more decent.
TEXTREAX. Text message I received last week will be forwarded to the TextForum subsection this week. Continue sharing your views.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0915-9228651/my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 9, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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