Axe away

It's pretty universal, I think. After a survey of opinion writers and interviews, I find that everybody seems to think Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio should also have been dismissed from the judiciary, and disbarred by the Supreme Court. Even retired Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez weighed in with her polite disagreement with her former colleagues, front page of a national daily, no less.

That pretty much spares me from discussing why I disagree with the Supreme Court when it decided to dismiss Justice Vicente Roxas, but only suspended Justice Sabio, even after Justice Sabio admitted to discussing an on-going case with his older brother, PCGG Chairman Camilo (who had called him precisely to try to influence him), and even after the justice had agreed to meet with a wheeler-dealer businessman, whose motives have already been extensively explored by the press.

I guess this stance won't sit well with the supporters of Justice Sabio, especially his staff, who have been pretty vocal with their position. And maybe it won't make me popular with the Ateneo law school student government, the student-members of which put their reputation on the line when they issued their manifesto of support for their professor of legal ethics.

But then again, maybe those students should re-examine the underpinnings of their support, so they can assess whether it's time to rally round the justice again, or whether it's time to take a step back and let everybody forget they ever said anything. Although come to think of it, it would be a much nicer thing to see if they issued another manifesto condemning themselves for being so gullible and manifesto-happy the first time around. Then they can also couple that with a promise to be more cautious the next time around, and hear the evidence for themselves rather than be swayed by their peers and emotional rhetoric. (I can almost hear my Ateneo law school friend say it: Judgment!)

Meanwhile, his brother Camilo, the anti-corruption warrior, has declared his intention to voluntarily (and, in his own words, spontaneously) go on leave - but (get this) only after his two-week trip to France and Vienna. What's this - enjoy the last couple of perks and wallow in the few remaining opportunities to spend more taxpayer's money on euro-goods, before coming home to face the music?

Apparently, and this is ironic, Camilo Sabio is supposed to attend a conference in Vienna. And guess what the conference will be on? Certainly not to learn how to yodel. The topic for the conference is none other than: corruption! Now, how rich is that? Taken to task for corruption, the subject of investigation for allegedly trying to influence a court case, and off he goes to Austria to learn more about it.

Now I think that's questionable. People are already calling for him to be sacked, he doesn't want to get sacked, but he says he'll go on leave, but meanwhile, he goes abroad and spends more government money. Does that make sense to you?

I for one am glad to see that the Supreme Court swiftly and decisively imposed punitive sanctions on those involved. It may not have been as harsh as what I wanted, but maybe that just proves the justices have softer hearts than mine. At least, it sends a strong signal to those who're disposed to tamper with the system that hey, there's still a chance they could get punished once they're caught - so think twice.

Of course, we'll never be able to totally weed out corruption, not when this country is as poor as it is. But actual punishment being meted is a strong deterrent to those on the sidelines, and the Supreme Court just needs to keep clocking away on those slimy scalawags if it wants the institution to remain strong.

Enough of those exposés and scandals, and big brouhahas and much public denouncing, and then after an investigation that drags on and on, nothing happens. After years of lying in limbo, the cases get quietly dismissed when no one's interested or everybody's dead. Or maybe, a token punishment is handed out, mostly on patsies. And then everybody just keeps doing what they wanted to do, anyway.

So, way to go on this one. There's still some hope left for us, apparently.