Faces of the news

Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo

President Duterte is a compañero, but the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) isn’t taking lightly his plan to declare a revolutionary government (RevGov) if his opponents attempted to topple him from power. As many sectors look the other way, either out of fear or for convenience, IBP members reminded the President that declaring a “RevGov” has no basis in law. “The institutions continue to be working, although there might be some attempts to downgrade their capabilities,” its president, Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, said in the group’s strongest statement yet against threats to rule of law. Fajardo, however, said that it was premature for the IBP to go to the Supreme Court to question Mr. Duterte’s warning of a revolutionary government since it’s only verbal, and hence, not yet subject to trial.

Roberto Cadiz

In the face of President Duterte’s attacks on the Commission on Human Rights, one of its commissioners isn’t backing down. Commissioner Roberto Cadiz has rallied lawyers to close ranks and “stand behind the truth, and not behind power” in defending human rights and the rule of law. He assailed the filing of an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as an attempt to undermine the democratic institutions. He called out presidential allies in the House of Representatives, which began to hear the complaint against the Chief Justice, for abiding by the “ law of the jungle.” “On Wednesday, the Chief Justice is about to be impeached in the House where the law of the jungle seems to be prevailing, or what they euphemistically refer to as the law of the supermajority,” he said.

Maria Lourdes Sereno

The Chief Justice sent a battery of lawyers to plead with the House justice committee to allow them to cross-examine witnesses on her behalf. But voting 30-4, the committee rejected her lawyers’ plea. Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas argued that the Supreme Court ruled that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada did not have the right to be furnished a copy of a plunder complaint during the preliminary investigation. “If you want to participate here, then become congressmen first,” he told the lawyers. The legal team, led by Alexander Poblador, quickly left after the vote, this time to prepare for a bigger battle ahead: the impeachment trial in the Senate. “We are looking forward for this case to be brought to the Senate, and we are confident we will be able to defend the Chief Justice there consistent with her constitutional rights,” he said.

Lorenzo Gadon

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was a no-show, while her lawyers were not given the light of day during the impeachment hearing of the House justice committee on Wednesday. Thus, all eyes were on Lorenzo Gadon, who fielded questions about his allegations against the top magistrate, including charges that she failed to declare her full wealth, bought a luxury sport utility vehicle for her personal use and made questionable decisions without consulting other justices. The lawyer admitted at least twice that he possessed neither personal knowledge nor authentic records of some allegations, including the charge that Sereno falsified a temporary restraining order prepared by Associate Justice Teresita De Castro. At one point, he admitted his source was a Manila Times reporter, prompting De Castro to deny releasing privileged information to the newsman.

Robert Mugabe

At 93, he ruled Zimbabwe since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. His downfall began when he sacked on Nov. 6 his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to position his 52-year-old wife, Grace, to succeed him. On Nov. 15, the military took the Mugabe couple under its custody and placed them under house arrest in a drama that riveted Africa. Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets to call for his resignation, but he did not budge. On Nov. 19, he addressed the nation, but did not step down. Two days later, as the Parliament began its impeachment proceedings, he resigned, throwing the Zimbabweans into a frenzy of celebration. Military authorities have granted the former president immunity from prosecution, a “generous pension” and guaranteed his safety in his home country.

Isaac Go

After bungling a crucial shot against a fierce rival, Ateneo’s Isaac Go made up for it with the biggest shot of his career. Just two weeks earlier, Go missed a point-blank hook in the closing seconds against La Salle. Had Go made the shot, it would have completed the Blue Eagles’ elimination sweep bid and propelled them straight to the UAAP Finals. The 6-foot-8 center, though, redeemed himself in a big way. As Ateneo looked headed for a shock exit against Far Eastern University, Go came to the Blue Eagle’s rescue with a clutch triple that forced overtime in their do-or-die Final Four duel. In the extra period, Go starred in another highlight when he collected an offensive rebound, fell to the ground, but still nailed a short stab that sealed an 88-84 win that sent Ateneo to another title showdown against La Salle.