SC flies flag at half-mast for Cuevas, 85

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s legal circle has lost a luminary idolized by many.

The Supreme Court (SC) began the week with the Philippine flag at half-mast to pay tribute to retired justice Serafin Cuevas, who died Sunday night. He was 85.

The Philippine flag and the colors of the SC shall remain at half-staff until his burial.

Cuevas’ wake will open at noon today at the Sanctuarium columbarium on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.

His family has not yet disclosed the cause of his death.

Cuevas was born on June 25, 1928. He has four children. His younger brother Felimon, a former ambassador, is an industrialist engaged in the business of real estate, hotels and shopping malls.

Cuevas was appointed the 106th associate justice by the late President Ferdinand Marcos and served from June 1, 1984 to April 16, 1986. 

He was justice secretary during the term of deposed president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada from July 1, 1998 to Feb. 15, 2000.

He was also the lead defense counsel of Estrada in his impeachment trial in 2001.

But Cuevas, whose career spanned over six decades, would be best remembered by the public as lead defense counsel in the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona in 2012.

He was dubbed the “rockstar” of the historic trial.

Corona mourns

In a statement, Corona mourned the passing of Cuevas, whom he considered “more than a lawyer.”

“He stood as father to me. He gave me strength to fight for what was right and just,” the former SC chief recalled, adding that Cuevas was a “very excellent defender.”

Corona said he would never forget what Cuevas had told him after the Senate impeachment court handed down its guilty verdict: “In the Supreme Court in the next life, there is just one sitting Judge who knows the injustice that happened in the sham impeachment trial. He will also correct all the undesirable that happened in the process.”

Estrada is also saddened by Cuevas’ demise, saying he was honored to have had in his Cabinet the magistrate “with the most brilliant legal mind in the country.” 

Other members of the Corona defense panel also mourned Cuevas’ passing. Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III said Cuevas, whose competence and brilliance were above theirs, respected their handling of the case.

Lawyer Joel Bodegon recalled that his fond memories of Cuevas started when the veteran jurist was his professor at the University of the Philippines.

“He was a spirited and inspiring teacher who regaled us with his prosecution of high profile criminal cases as the city fiscal of Manila,“ Bodegon said. 

“He was a courageous defender of the Supreme Court and the rule of law, a dedicated public servant. We, the former lawyers of Corona, all consider ourselves privileged to have worked with JC, as I called him.” lawyer Jose “Judd” Roy III said. 

Palace extends condolences

Malacañang also extended its condolences to the family of the late magistrate. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday made the gesture in behalf of the government of President Aquino.

“While he (Cuevas) has represented the interest adverse to the government, we have always shown our respect for each other, and we truly mourn the passing of Justice Cuevas,” Lacierda told a news briefing.

But he could not say yet if Aquino intends to visit Cuevas’ wake. 

“The official funeral ceremonies, I think, will be undertaken by the Supreme Court. We have not been notified of any activities yet. Once there is a notification, we will inform the President,” Lacierda said. 

‘Formidable adversary’

Prosecutors in the Corona impeachment trial also mourned the passing of Cuevas, whom they said was a formidable adversary. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, head of the prosecution panel of the House of Representatives, said he learned a lot from Cuevas during the five-month trial in the Senate.

“I remember the day when we were about to deliver our final arguments, I approached him and told him ‘you did a great job,’ and he whispered back: ‘you did better because you’re going to win’,” Tupas told The STAR.

Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo, one of the spokesmen of the prosecution panel, recalled that Cuevas was the only reason why their task in the impeachment panel became difficult during the Corona trial.

“He had an uncommon sense of timing and very lethal killer instinct. His loyalty to his client was unquestionable. Yet, in my mind, what made him more impressive was his humility outside the courtroom,” Quimbo said.

“I had the rare benefit of seeing this man in action. He was truly old-school: he had mastery of the law, knowledge of legal procedure like the back of his hand, and the oratorical prowess of a debate champion,” he added. 

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, for her part, said it was a privilege to have Cuevas as “a brilliant teacher in UP” and that “he had that certain quality of character that transcended generations.” –  With Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez