Scrolling down: This justice also applied for a seat in Supreme Court. His son pushed him to apply... His predecessor Justice Inglis distinguishes commitment from involvement... The draft constitution on federalism is "dead," according to three declarations on its state, put in different ways.
FIRST, Harry Roque's turnaround. Asked by Vice Ganda on ABS-CBN's "Gandang Gabi Vice" if the former presidential spokesman thought Duterte had done or said anything inappropriate, Roque quickly answered: "Meron naman siyempre. Naku, unang-una 'yong kissing. Akala ko mamamatay ako nun. 'Yong kissing in Korea."... Mocha Uson filed her COC under Kasosyo party-list; her advocacy: helping Filipino OFWs. She's not running for senator but for congresswoman.
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Introduced: new executive judge
You probably didn't know that the Court of Appeals Visayas station's new executive judge, son of a fisherman and known as the "habal-habal-driver judge of Dumaguete," is Edgardo de los Santos. He has replaced CA Associate Justice Gabriel Inglis who says his successor is known as EJ Edsa.
And that's not just what's interesting about Justice Edsa. He is one of 13 applicants to the SC post vacated by former SC justice now Ombudsman Samuel Martires. A native of Palompon, Leyte and now based in Cebu, Justice Edsa was prodded by his son, Atty. Fritz Bryn Anthony de los Santos, who works at the SC. In 2017, he received an "Ulirang Ama" award for law and judiciary from the Ulirang Ina Ama Awards Foundation in Manila.
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Explained: Inglis not retired
Court of Appeals Associate Justice Gabriel Inglis had to explain that he has not retired as judge. What he remarked on publicly was about completing his term as executive judge of the Visayas station of the CA. Judges retire at 70 and Justice Inglis is 66.
When he was appointed to CA's Cebu station (now known as Visayas station) last April 1, 2014, he promised to lead it as "an institution of integrity."
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Compared: commitment of hen, fish
Justice Gabby, in an October 15 Facebook message about completing his term as executive judge, compares the "commitment" of a hen and a fish. For breakfast, he says, you may have an egg and "bulad" or dried fish. The hen provides the egg and the fish your "bulad." What's the difference?
"... Try to reflect on how the fish and hen had participated and shared themselves in the cause of feeding or sustaining your life and making you happy... While the hen only shared a part of herself, the fish had given its all, including its life. The first is mere involvement while the second is commitment."
He cited the difference between commitment and involvement. By finishing his term as executive judge, he now can "devote myself full time to that principal duty entrusted to me by the people through the Constitution" as a judge.
Those who know Justice Gabby are convinced about his dedication and probity. Some lawyers however may disagree about the allusion to the fish and the hen. Each fish or chicken is doomed from birth to suffer its part in the food chain. And the fish is no fuller in commitment. The hen lays eggs for some time but soon also ends up in the cooking fire. And the worse suffering: the hen often doesn't have a choice on which rooster it can have sex with. Hens, if they could, would be joining the #MeToo movement.
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In other words: federalism's fate
One senator says the draft federalism constitution will be "dead on arrival" at the Senate. A congressman says the proposal is "dead in the water" even as it still has to face the House plenary. A constitution lawyer says it is "dead on departure," referring to the would-be House resolution. Whatever it is, it's dead, or so they say. But this administration has a knack for miracles, such as resurrecting the dead.
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