Political pressure?

Last week, this column expressed concern that recent developments on the issues involving Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Pedro Cuerpo may be unfairly affecting perceptions regarding Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Noel Tijam. We called attention to growing speculations that “strong hints” from certain political quarters may be influencing Justice Tijam’s predisposition on the Cuerpo issue.

It will be recalled that Justice Tijam gave the Palace 30 days to resolve Cuerpo’s appeal regarding a suspension slapped on him by the Rizal Provincial Board. That deadline expired last June 22.

Our concern over the speculations regarding the alleged pressure on Justice Tijam elicited some reactions from our readers who say the CA should have exercised its authority with more decisiveness. In so doing, the CA justice would have avoided impressions that it was “a good soldier” of the Palace, a perception that could dent its image of independence.

The President’s legal staff was given a 30-day deadline by Justice Tijam to act on Cuerpo’s case. Our readers point out that the apparent snob of the deadline by the President’s staff has sent signals that the Palace may be complacent that Justice Tijam would handle the case “according to which direction the political wind is blowing”.

Our readers opine that whatever the real score is, it cannot be helped but for the public to think that Justice Tijam has succumbed to “strong hints” from the Palace to “look the other way” regarding the Cuerpo issue.

This column is constrained to reiterate its stand that the whole matter has become truly unfair to Justice Tijam.

It is unfortunate that the current flak should be timed with another speculation – this time that Justice Tijam may be eyeing a seat that would soon be vacated in the Supreme Court. The scuttlebutt is that he may not want to “rock the political boat” pending an appointment to the High Court.

Previously, Justice Tijam’s sense of independence had already been put into question simply because he had to preside over cases in which the Palace is perceived as having particular interest. These were the Lance Corporal Daniel Smith case and the acquittal of former solon Jose Villarosa .

We can only commiserate with the Justice.

But we maintain our faith that the Judiciary values its independence, and the hope that Justice Tijam would act in a way that underscores that sense of judicial independence.

He does not deserve the adverse image and we truly hope he acts to dispel the perception.

It is not too late for Justice Tijam to do this.

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