‘SC can’t trivialize people’s conviction of Marcos’

Even the Supreme Court cannot trivialize former President Ferdinand Marcos’ conviction by the people during the Edsa People Power 1 revolt, a Court of Appeals Associate Justice said Thursday.

Members of the Judicial and Bar Council’s (JBC) asked aspirants to the Supreme Court Associate Justice post if they agree with the high court’s decision which in effect allowed the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).

Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier disagreed with the majority ruling, saying she believes the highest conviction against the former dictator was done through the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising which ousted him from power after 21 years as president.

“I do not agree with the majority opinion. I think the conviction made by the people themselves is the highest court and not even the Supreme Court can trivialize that conviction,” Javier said.

“It lasts forever and ever, even beyond life. He was convicted by the People Power-the highest form of conviction and no higher conviction can wash it off,” she added.

Javier is one of those vying for the slot held by Arturo Brion, who is set to retire on December 29 after reaching the mandatory age of 70.

Another aspirant, lawyer Joseph San Pedro, agreed with Javier, saying the “primary issue is the historical underpinning of the 1987 Constitution.”

“We came from an ouster of a dictator and to allow the dictator to be buried there is a dishonor to the people who sacrificed to have our democracy right now,” San Pedro said.

Other applicants for the same SC post–Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, Centro Escolar University law school vice dean Rita Linda Ventura-Jimeno and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires–all supported the majority ruling on the controversial issue during their JBC interview Wednesday./rga