An honor guard from the Philippine National Police carries the folded flag and the urn containing the ashes of the late Chief Justice Andres Narvasa who was eulogized by his peers at the Supreme Court in Manila on Monday. He was 84. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines—The late Andres Narvasa was described in necrological services held Monday at the Supreme Court as an “intellectual heavyweight” and a “caring” Chief Justice by his peers.
Narvasa, who died on Oct. 31 at the age of 84, was, unknown to many, also a “wonderful” singer, according to his son who, in thanking high court justices led by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno as well as court employees for the tribute, gifted them with a CD of eight songs his father sang and recorded years ago in celebration of his wedding anniversary.
The justices and court employees got a rare treat when Narvasa’s rendition of the song “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” was played.
An urn containing Narvasa’s cremated remains was brought to the court’s en banc session hall for a few hours to allow the justices and court employees to pay their last respects. Vice President Jejomar Binay and his daughter Sen. Nancy Binay joined the event.
Narvasa served as dean of the University of Santo Tomas faculty of civil law and legal counsel of the Agrava Commission that investigated the 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino.
President Corazon Aquino appointed Narvasa associate justice of the Supreme Court in April 1986, and then named him the 19th Chief Justice in December 1991. He retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Nov. 30, 1998.
In his eulogy, retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide said his predecessor was the seventh Chief Justice to pass away in less than a year.
“Chief Justice Andre also chose to leave for the court en banc in heaven just a few days before attaining the old age of 85. He would have been 85 on Nov. 30. He did not want to grow any older; and his beloved wife, Janina, whom he sweetly called Jani, adored and faithfully loved, had been beckoning him to be with her in that eternal abode in the loving presence of the Lord,” Davide said.
Davide said he was, and remained proud to be, a member of the Narvasa court. He said that Narvasa, “by God’s plan and design,” was instrumental in his own appointment as Chief Justice.
He recalled that on Nov. 30, 1998, on Andres Bonifacio Day, then President Joseph Estrada told him he was appointing him as Narvasa’s successor. He had attended the Bonifacio Day celebration with Estrada, after Narvasa asked him to represent him. Narvasa turned 70 on that day.
Davide said that Narvasa was an intellectual heavyweight but he was “always approachable.”
“He never attempted to curry favor with politicians and endeavored to insulate the court from their importuning,” he said.
For her part, Sereno said she met Narvasa when she was a law professor and got involved in the Supreme Court’s justice program being implemented then. She described Narvasa as a “truly caring” Chief Justice who was loved by court employees.
Sereno also announced that the high court would launch the autobiography of Narvasa on Nov. 30, his 85th birthday.
Speaking on behalf of his siblings, Narvasa’s son Gregorio II thanked the high court for the tribute and said he was certain his father appreciated the gesture.
He turned over to Sereno a copy of the CD recording that his father made “because of his great love for Mommy” and another copy for the court archives.
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