A time to think carefully
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- Published on Monday, 13 August 2012 00:00
By A Web design Company
‘Such a pity that political capital has to be squandered just like that. Tread carefully, Mr. President.’
If the Judicial and Bar Council ignores the disbarment complaint against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and includes her in the shortlist of three nominees for Chie Justice to submit to the President, the nation will never see the end it.
De Lima does exactly tower intellectually over the other candidates to the Supreme Court. She has slighted the tribunal with her quaint doctrine that anytime an order of the tribunal is stayed by an order of a lower court, the case stays frozen
Even if De Lima makes the shortlist, there is nothing politically or morally imperative for Aquino to appoint her as Chief Justice.
She simply cannot hack it.
Recently, there was tittering in the Palace when the name of De Lima’s supposed substitute candidate’s name was floated. The substitute smiled and said he was not interested.
What does Aquino owe De Lima that he appears determined to appoint her? Is this payback time for preventing Gloria Arroyo from leaving the country? Or is it to be assured of a sympathetic voice when the time comes to reconsider how much to add to the payment ordered by the Supreme Court to the owners of Hacienda Luisita?
Whatever it is, the President cannot win public opinion to his side on this one. Such a pity that political capital has to be squandered just like that. Tread carefully, Mr. President.
