Enter the Dragon-lady Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago

The Filipino people have just about had enough of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. She is loud, arrogant, and intolerant of anyone but herself. In her Ilongo-accented diatribes Santiago bullies anyone and everyone she dislikes or who happens not to share her views. It is somewhat disheartening because Santiago is reasonably smart and adequately educated—but the minute she opens her mouth, those pluses just fly out the window.

Andres Narvasa Should be Held Accountable for His 1992 Resolution A.M. No. 92-9-851-RTC

The ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has brought to light what appears to be a faulty, if not patently unconstitutional 1992 En Banc resolution of the Philippine Supreme Court that effectively ended any public disclosure of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of any Justice or Judge. Chief Justice Andres Narvasa’s court in their ruling—A.M. No. 92-9-851-RTC, dated September 22, 1992—resolved that henceforth all “All requests for copies of statements of assets and liabilities of any Justice or Judge shall be filed with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court or with the Court Administrator, as the case may be, and shall state the purpose of the request.” Published 1/24/2012

The Renato Corona Impeachment Trial—Three Days and Counting

The Corona impeachment trial now three days old is turning out to be somewhat of a disappointment. The month-long period form December 14, 2011 when the Senators first took their oaths as Senator-Judges  to the January 16 start, only served to heighten the public’s anticipation for a blockbuster court drama that would play out live in their livingrooms. Published 1/19/2012