An overwhelming majority voted for the impeachment including you and me. All our three congressmen — Cong. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong of the 1st District, Cong. George Arnaiz of the 2nd District, and Cong. Henry Pryde Teves of the 3rd District, thus, being elected by majority of their constituents, have carried the voice of the people in favor of the impeachment of the Chief Justice when they signed the verification of the complaint.
We are a democratic and republican form of government, and as enshrined in our Constitution, we reserved our inviolable rights under the Bill of Rights, and no official in government can assail the sovereignty of the people.
While the Supreme Court may be the sole arbiter or interpreter of laws, the sovereign people, through their elected representatives, have every right to remind unelected Justices that the Constitution is read and understood by all, and must be adhered to by all, because the effects of their interpretation must stand to logic and reason, in relation to the basic tenets of fairness and justice.
Most people agree that there are many noble men and women in the judiciary, but that their exemplary record is tarnished by the few who seem to think that just because they are judges, they are above the law, can interpret the law as they wish, never mind precedents, set aside their own Rules of Court to favor a few, or can exhibit bias in favor of those who cater to their whims and caprices.
Now that the impeachment trial in on the way, we are in the process of affirming that democracy is working in this blighted nation of ours. Will the people allow fourth motion for reconsiderations in final decisions like that of the LGU-Cities case? Would the people allow just a letter to be given due course in spite of the finality of a decision in the FASAP case? Will the people allow the personal expenses of some court officials to be charged to a World Bank Loan fund, which the people have to pay in the end?
Evidence will be presented, but at the end of the day, it is these nagging questions of the people that will prevail, and which have to be answered.
This is a challenge to our Senator-judges who must act with impartiality, and must appear and conduct themselves as the embodiment of the sovereignty of the people.
This is the reason why Senator-judges cannot be inhibited because they represent the voice of the millions of people who elected them. This is the reason why every election, you should think and review the qualifications of each Senator.
In times like this, our Senators tackle serious problems of nation-building, by making unelected officials accountable to the people.
More importantly in this impeachment is the issue: whether or not the Chief Justice is morally fit to stay at the helm of the Judiciary. That is the heart of the matter.
