Miriam’s mental health

THE US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPFGG) based in the United States, of which yours truly is a convenor, has started an online Petition for the rejection and expulsion of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago from the International Criminal Court.

The Petition follows:

“We have taken the liberty of writing to you on behalf of concerned Filipino organizations and individuals in the Philippines and overseas who subscribe to and actively advocate the goal of competent, honest and progressive governance of our homeland, the Philippines.

“We are respectfully bringing to your attention a serious matter that affects the image and reputation of the Philippines and, potentially, the image and reputation of the International Criminal Court.

“In addition to mastery of international jurisprudence and forensic skills, we assume that you also require a sound mind, emotional and psychological stability, unsullied integrity and incorruptibility, as well as patience, civility and impeccable decorum.

“We submit that a person who is emotionally or psychologically unstable, prone to fits of uncontrollable rage, lacking in patience and empathy, ruthless with the feelings of fellow human beings, bereft of civility and uncaring about decorum does not deserve a place in your honorable court.

“We further submit that an individual who has admitted to having publicly lied and who has demonstrated partiality, prejudice, lack of principles and questionable integrity as a public official does not deserve to be a judge, much less a judge of the International Criminal Court.

“In this regard, we regret to inform you that such an undeserving individual has been elected to the International Criminal Court, in a lapse of good judgment on the part of the government of the Republic of the Philippines.

“We are referring to Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a member of the Philippine Senate, who has been elected to the International Criminal Court and is shortly scheduled to take her oath of office.

“We are bringing this matter to your attention for fear that you may construe her uncivilized behavior and her loose ethics as epitomizing the Filipino people. While, ironically, it should be a source of pride for Filipinos to have one of our own elected to your honorable court, we are embarrassed by the ill-considered nomination of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Far from representing the best of us, she typifies the worst. We fear that her presence in the International Criminal Court will make us the laughing stock of the world.

“We, therefore, respectfully submit that a reconsideration of her election to the International Criminal Court is called for and that her nomination be rejected upon reconsideration.”

Atty. Rodel Rodis of California, the author of the Petition and president of the USPFGG, also reported the following Excerpts from a Philippine Supreme Court decision:

EFREN G. BATTAD V. SENATOR MIRIAM PALMA DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO SECOND DIVISION [A.C. No. 8519 : February 22, 2010]

On January 7, 2010, Efren G. Battad filed a Complaint against Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago (Sen. Santiago) for serious misconduct, violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829, and Canons of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Complainant alleged that Sen. Santiago committed the following acts:

4.1. Culpable violation of the Constitution. By her deliberate failure to make a full disclosure of her financial and business interests. She purchased a lot and built a tiled mansion in La Vista Subdivision, Quezon City, at an estimated cost of at least P53,204,631.00; a building in Quezon City; and a weekend mansion in Tagaytay City,

4.2. Graft and corruption, and unexplained wealth. For many years, respondent was a rented apartment dweller until she suddenly acquired the La Vista mansion and occupied the same in June 2002. The value of the newly acquired properties is grossly disproportionate to her salary as Senator which, according to her, is “P43,000.00 per month;”

4.3. Obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of a criminal offense. When her son Alexander Robert violently died in her house in La Vista, Quezon City, on November 20, 2003, respondent claimed it was “suicide.” Law enforcement agencies of the government were not allowed to conduct scene of the crime investigation. She had the cadaver of her son immediately cremated, thus destroying, suppressing and concealing the very corpus delicti of the offense;

4.4. When appointed as Secretary of Agrarian Reform in 1990, her appointment was unanimously rejected by the Commission on Appointments, then presided by Senate President Jovito Salonga. The charge against her was graft and corruption for having stolen the Toyota Supra sports car of Margarita Roxas from the custody of the Bureau of Customs. Her husband, Narciso Santiago, Jr., was at that time connected with the Bureau of Customs;

4.5. As former Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation in 1988 to 1989, respondent embarked on her corrupt and notorious “Alien Legalization Program” Under this program, thousands of aliens who opted to legalize their residence in the Philippines were charged with at least P200,000.00 each. Unfortunately, the fees collected were not remitted to the government. Worse, one (1) receipt was repeatedly used for 10 or more aliens;

4.6. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is of unsound mind. She appeals to be suffering from a severe mental disorder, characterized by the following symptoms:

4.7. Unparliamentary behavior. She repeatedly abused her position and power as Senator to defame and slander people, x x x She has repeatedly, with impunity, violated the lawyer’s duty as a Member of the Bar to abstain from all offensive [behavior] x x x and her duty to uphold the dignity of the court by using offensive language x x x Further, the Senator has continuously abused her privilege as a lawyer and as a Senator by indulging in offensive [behavior] and language x x x;

4.8. Using her position and power as Senator, she gave unwarranted benefits to her husband, brother, sister, son and cousin by having them appointed to the government posts;

4.9. Repeated disrespect to the Supreme Court, and lack of remorse.

Complainant prayed that Sen. Santiago be disbarred and her name be removed from the Roll of Attorneys. Battad’s petition was denied on a legal technicality.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has the right to speak, but any sane person also has the right not to hear her histrionics, vulgarity, unprofessionalism, and abusive language. All of us have the right to peace and sanity, including private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre II, who like me and million other TV viewers of the Corona impeachment trial, covered his ears.

For more data, please visit: philipSchua.com