Sense of Decency Like common Sense is not common

Leila De Lima

What do Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Limma and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares have in common? Aside from both of them are women, both of them are Philippine President Noynoy Aguino's appointee,  both testified on impeachment trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, both are nominated to become the next Chief Justice, and both of them could not decide whether to accept the nomination or not. 

One of the issues against Renato C. Corona during the impeachment was decency (delicadeza) for accepting "the midnight appointment" of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Even at the start, the appointment smells fishy; and the perception that a corrupt rotten fish was hidden somewhere was proven to have some basis during the impeachment trial. Sense of decency may not be enough a qualification for the third most Powerful Gpvernment Official of the land nominee, but it is a very important qualification; for without it, the aspirant has no solid foundation to withstand the onslaught of corruption if he or she can’t withstand it within himself,

Kim Henares

De Lima and Henares both testified against the former Chief Justice during the impeachment trial, I strongly believe that for anyone of them to become the next Chief Justice is indecent, lacks probity, if not immoral. They should not even contemplate on becoming the next Chief Justice, and they should automatically decline the nomination if both of them are not power greedy, has a sense of decency, and posses an unquestionable moral excellence. Even by just prolonging the probable acceptance of the nomination brings a subtle notion that they are contemplating the thought of becoming the next Chief Justice, and as if they are waiting for some signal from higher influential people to accept the nomination or not. As if indeed power corrupts and greed could turn a person dumb, for they could not even heed nor understand the pronouncement of The President that what he wanted is for them to stay in their respected present position.

If in truth they are public servants, they should be content and happy for what they have; both of them are already serving their country and not too many Filipinos had given that rare chance to serve. To desire that high controversial corrupt laden position that presently demands an untainted integrity is not prudent for anyone who took part in the process to make that position vacant. Accepting a payment from a heroic endeavor is not bad, but it is not good either. I thought that both of them are heroine of the impeachment, now I have a second thought of that thought. As I understand, heroes don't accept nor contemplate on accepting a payback for their heroism, for if they do, they lost the category of being a hero.

Experience thought us, and as what we have seen during the trial, for a Chief Justice of this land; it seems that we need someone who is more than a hero, someone who cannot be corrupted by anything or anyone, including himself. 

A Supreme Court Chief Justice, more than anyone else, must possess an untainted moral excellence. Power corrupts and a Nation can survive with a corrupt President but not with a corrupt Supreme Court Chief Justice. (The Head of The Judiciary is considered to be the one who has the final word in any Governments issue; particularly, if that issue is questioned and brought about in court). The present DOJ Secretary and BIR Commissioner should learn from the actuation of Senator Franklin Drillon who automatically decline the nomination knowing very well the possible repercussions of such nomination; unfortunately, it appears that, at this time, both of the two lady aspirants do not have the mindset of a Philippine Senator, which I thought they have.