Learning to shoot back at the aggrieved

On the front page of the Inquirer yesterday, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes is shown leading the ceremonial shoot to open a one-day firearms proficiency training course for justices.

At the rate most of them are selling cases to the highest bidder, justices, judges—and even prosecutors—should learn how to shoot.

They should be able to shoot back at the people whom they have aggrieved because of their unjust decisions and who may run after them.

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There used to be a time when justices, judges and prosecutors (who were called fiscals then) were very much respected by the communities where they served.

That was when court decisions or temporary restraining orders or decisions from the fiscal’s office were made on the merit of a case; meaning, there was no money involved.

Then, judges and fiscals were looked up to by the citizenry.

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I was told of a justice at the Court of Appeals who demanded and received money from a respondent in a criminal case.

But still, the justice upheld the decision of the lower court on the respondent.

The respondent learned later that the plaintiff also gave the justice money.

There’s a term for what the CA justice did: lagareng hapon.

It refers to a saw that cuts both ways.

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At the Court of Appeals branches in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, some justices are reportedly engaged in lagareng hapon.

That’s why when they’re recalled to the home office in Manila, most justices would do everything possible to stay the execution of the order.

The delinquent justices in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro can do as they please as they are far from the prying eyes of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who has supervision over them.

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Some quarters are asking if it’s a big deal that bishops received sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO).

It is not only a big deal, it’s also scandalous.

The money that was used in buying the SUVs could have been spent on many ailing poor who needed medicines.

The bishops who were recipients of the largesse should have thought about the PCSO’s poor beneficiaries who were deprived of medicines because the money went to them.

Besides, why would those bishops, who are supposed to lead simple lives following the example of Jesus of Nazareth, want luxury vehicles when they can ride bicycles or motorcycles?

The answer is simple: They are pasikat or showoffs.

They want to feel important, as important as legislators who display the number 8 license plates on their vehicles.

Doesn’t the Catholic Church teach its followers that pride is one of the deadly sins?

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As many as 50,000 overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, most of them domestic helpers, will be affected by the “Saudization” policy.

The Saudi government now wants its citizens or subjects, who are mostly lazy, to fill up jobs given to foreigners.

Yes, many OFWs in Saudi will be unemployed as a result of the ban.

But the ban could be a blessing in disguise.

Filipinos are very resilient people and can adapt to any crisis.

There will be other job opportunities waiting for OFWs who will be affected by the ban.

When God closes a window, He opens two more.