ON TARGET
Beating a dead horse
By Ramon TulfoPhilippine Daily Inquirer
Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares’ reason for the nomination for Chief Justice is noble.
She said she would undertake reforms in the judiciary if she becomes Chief Justice because she has experienced being a litigant in a flawed judicial system.
“I’ve experienced the complaints of people about the adjudication system, from arbitration in the National Labor Relations Commission, all the way to fighting for your rights, bumping against big establishments,” said the lawyer-accountant.
She said she “personally experienced all in the system itself.”
Only a person who has tasted injustice in our judicial system like Henares knows how the corrupt system works and how changes can be made.
Henares said she is not interested in the adjudication aspect of the position of Chief Justice, but the reforms she could introduce in the judicial system.
“The attraction in the position of Chief Justice is the judicial reform aspect, the management of the courts, the administrative side, the institution of reforms,” said Henares.
Let’s hope the reforms she would introduce in the judiciary are hers, and not the President’s.
Many people are apprehensive that the next Chief Justice might become a toady or puppet of Malacañang.
A lame judiciary would result in the complete imbalance of power among the three branches of government as the legislative branch is perceived to be subservient to the President.
A corrupt but independent judiciary is preferable to a clean but conspiratorial ally of a dictatorial executive branch.
This President has the makings of a dictator.
* * *
After ousting Renato Corona as Chief Justice, Aquino should stop beating a dead horse.
The President mentioned Corona’s ouster in a speech at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan province, during the ceremonies marking Independence Day.
Aquino seems to take pleasure in making the former Chief Justice miserable even when the latter is already down.
The best way for Corona to win sympathizers even among those who wanted him kicked out as Chief Justice is for him to be crucified continuously.
* * *
An elderly woman, the mother of a customs official, has replaced a woman linked to a scandal as the alleged intermediary between smugglers and corrupt customs personnel, according to my sources.
The controversial woman, whose intervention at the customs bureau reportedly led to its poor revenue collections, is said to be a special friend of Mike Arroyo, the husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
I am told that the elderly woman, on the other hand, is feared by the customs official’s father, who is reportedly a henpecked husband.
In short, the customs official also fears this woman.
A family affair, if I may say so.
* * *
President Noy has made a premature disclosure regarding his intention to include Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon in the administration’s senatorial lineup in next year’s elections.
Biazon might not know this but some of his subordinates are using the announcement that he will run for senator by extorting money from importers and brokers.
It would be to Biazon’s best interests if he resigns before filing his candidacy to preclude suspicions that he’s behind the tong collections.
Anyway, even with Biazon gone, the customs bureau will still be in good hands because of Deputy Customs Commissioner Danny Lim, a very honest man.
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