RP Supreme Court observes centennial

The Philippine Supreme Court commemorated its centennial anniversary last June 11. The Supreme Court is our ultimate symbol of justice and justice is the greatest virtue because it contains all other virtues. In the words of Daniel Webster, "Justice is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together. Wherever her temple stands, and so long as it is duly honored, there is a foundation for social security, general happiness, and the improvement and progress of our race. And whoever labors on this edifice with usefulness and distinction, whoever clears its foundations, strengthens its pillars, adorns its entablatures, or contributes to raise its august dome still higher in the skies, connects himself, in the name, and fame, and character, with that which is and must be as durable as the frame of human society."

We had such a person in Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, fifth justice of the Supreme Court who was shot by the Japanese in Malabang, Lanao del Sur because he refused to swear allegiance to the Japanese government. Before getting shot, he told his son, "Don’t cry! Show the Japanese that you are brave. Remember that not everyone is given the opportunity to die for his country."

One of the very few noble things Estrada did as president was to proclaim February 19 as Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Day in recognition of his martyrdom. The day, however, should not have been February 19, Abad Santos’ birthday; it should be May 2, the day of his martyrdom.

In our opinion, he is the greatest Filipino hero of the 20th century. In him, we have not only the memory of a great name, but the heritage of a great example. He should be the model of every lawyer. All law schools should annually commemorate his martyrdom. We don’t know of any Supreme Court in the whole world that produced a martyr like Jose Abad Santos. Yet, everyone seems to have forgotten him. As Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, his task was to administer justice. He died for it!

The Supreme Court commemorated its centennial on June 11. The next day, June 12, the nation observed the anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. We found this coincidence meaningful because there can be no rule of freedom without the rule of law. It was also ironic that the Supreme Court centennial commemoration was happening at a time when the nation’s main focus of attention was the lawlessness in Mindanao. At this stage, it is a military problem. But as President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a former general, noted, "Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace."

On the occasion of the Supreme Court’s Centennial Anniversary, we bid the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices a warm welcome to the third millennium.