The Silliman University College of Law and its Sen. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development (JRSCLD) has expressed deep regret over the attempt to arrest former Senate President Jovito Salonga last Monday at his residence.
Salonga, who turns 92 in June, is bedridden and suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was served a warrant of arrest by the police at his Valle Verde home in Pasay City in connection with estafa charges filed against him and other respondents by a certain physician named Restituto Buenviaje over the sale and construction of a Tagaytay property that remains unfinished.
The police were unable to bring Salonga with them but Salonga’s son and co-defendant Esteban accompanied the police to the Court to explain his father’s condition.
The JRSCLD, in an emailed statement, said Dr. Jovito R. Salonga’s living legacy cannot be overlooked in the midst of this circumstance. “As a topnotcher in the 1944 bar exam, Dr. Salonga could have chosen to lead a comfortable and lucrative legal career. Yet, he risked his career and wielded his brilliance to win cases for political prisoners during the Marcos years. He even risked his life, narrowly surviving a critical injury at a bombing incident a year before Martial Law was declared. For these and for many other undertakings, Dr. Salonga is internationally recognized as a human rights champion.”
Dr. Jovito R. Salonga is an epitome of integrity and substance and this is why Silliman chose to name employ his name as a meaningful banner for the university’s Center for Law and Development, launched by no less that the good Senator himself on August 26, 2006 at the College of Law, Silliman University, the JRSCLD said.
The Center further called on appropriate government agencies concerned to exercise prudence in the performance of its functions so that an incident of like nature will not be repeated.
