Vexation for Iloilo RTC judge applicants

By: Alex P. Vidal

“Anybody can become angry–that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way–that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.” – ARISTOTLE

ANY lawyer from Iloilo aspiring to become a regional trial court (RTC) judge today must have felt alluded to when disqualified Duterte Youth party-list nominee Ronaldo Cardema recently accused Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of extortion and of demanding the appointment of a lawyer as RTC judge in Iloilo.

We know that desperate Cardema’s wild charges are nothing but hogwash, but his allegations are unfair to all lawyers who happen to have pending applications for RTC judge in Iloilo.

Guanzon, 61, a former Cadiz City mayor, is from Negros Occidental, not Iloilo.

And granting, for the sake of argument, that Guanzon is really pushing for a certain lawyer to become RTC judge in Iloilo, why would she genuflect with a former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman, who is only a Duterte fanatic and not even a lawyer or someone with connections with the Department of Justice or with the President?

Where is the common sense?

Guanzon might as well go directly to President Duterte.

 

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If a lawyer is appointed as RTC judge in Iloilo tomorrow or any day, which only coincides with Cardema’s ongoing revulsion toward Guanzon, some people will suspect that the new judge must have connections with the brave lady poll commissioner.

Even if Guanzon doesn’t know the newly appointed judge from Adam, for instance, she will still nevertheless get a credit for the appointment, in one way or the other.

Even if the appointment as RTC judge is valid and had undergone the normal process and has nothing to do whatsoever with the Cardema-Guanzon skirmish, some people will start to speculate maliciously once they remember Cardema’s allegations against Guanzon.

People, of course, aren’t stupid to believe that Cardema is responsible for the appointment since, in the first place, he has no power to facilitate or even recommend for higher positions in the judiciary unless he is the President.

 

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AS the legal battle between Panay Electric Company (PECO) and MORE Electric and Power Corp. prolongs, many Iloilo City consumers have become skeptical as to which firm will eventually remain and which will fold up.

The consumers don’t have the patience to follow the high-strung telenovela, much less take sides.

They listen to the news, but aren’t interested in the nitty-gritty of the legal dispute.

They are aware that what’s going on is a game of the generals and whoever will capitulate and victorious, is none of their business as tiny grasses.

As long as they are assured of a steady and sufficient power supply, the monthly bills aren’t astronomical, the services aren’t lousy, and they have the money to pay for the monthly bills, the consumers won’t give a hoot if the litigation between the two elephants will extend beyond the Age of Aquarius.

 

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THE Spaniards have colonized us and taught us how to become religious and hypocrites.

The Americans have colonized us, gave us education, and taught us to patronize Hollywood movies.

Will the Chinese colonize us next and teach us how to get rich through business and how to build more infrastructure and bridges from one island to another for future global trade route?

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)