(Editor's note: Safety before glory is a doctrine in despair as noted by the author.)

Our “Matatag na Republika” and high officials are witnesses to virtual desertion of judicial duties in Cotabato City, when judges filed for mass leave within hours of the Maguindanao massacre.

They were supposed to preside and discharge duties and make decisions after receiving filings from the government prosecutors and other parties. Courts there did not function as in WW II.

Fear of duty

DoJ was forced to move for transfer of venue to QC and complaints for murder were raffled. Again, the “lucky” judge refused to touch the cases with a 10-foot pole, saying, “Safety first before duty, glory, and country.” It was a sad day for the justice system in our “Republika.”

It took a visit from the chief justice Wednesday morning to calm the waters and temper. DoJ Secretary Devanadera sympathized with “judge safety” as she suggested that “his honor” badly needs new employment, possibly outside the judiciary or the government.

Devanadera as Golda

Devanadera can qualify for the calling of “the only man in the Cabinet” as Prime Minister Ben-Gurion called Golda Meir – signer of Israel’s 1948 declaration of independence, member of Knesset (1949-74), foreign minister (1956-66) and fourth prime minister (1969-74).

Last official act

One of the last official acts of Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos was to administer the second oath of office to Quezon and Osmeña on December 30, 1941, at Corregidor’s Malinta Tunnel with General MacArthur as witness. The Quezon War Cabinet had entrusted broad powers to the chief justice as: Secretary of Justice, Acting Secretary of Finance, Agriculture, and Commerce departments. Abad Santos was virtual head of the government.

Treason and death

He was captured by Japan’s imperial army in Carcar, Cebu, and was brought to Parang, Cotabato, and finally to Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

He was asked to convince Brig. Gen. Manuel Roxas to surrender and renounce his allegiance to America. Abad Santos replied: “I cannot be a traitor to my country and America. I would prefer to die than live in shame.”

To his son Pepito he said: “It is a rare opportunity for me to die for our country. And not everybody is given that chance.”

But café mavericks have expressed doubts: “Is RP worth dying for up to June 30, 2010?”

Lawyers’ oath

Over the years lawyers take various oaths as member of the Bar, trial judges, justices of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, and as presiding justices. They also administer various oaths to parties, their witnesses, amici curiae (friends of the court), fellow lawyers, etc.

Hopelessly poor

Maguindanao has a population of more than 715,000 who face a daily toil in communities and farms destined to be hopelessly poor, where public school teachers are “recruited” for their affiliation, not competence.

It’s hard to understand why 715,000 Filipinos in Maguindanao cannot find a single voice and complain about their lot in perpetual poverty, fear, indifference, and resignation.

‘El Tigre’

Years ago, one lesson in low life and politics was the subject of a Hollywood movie titled "El Tigre." Robert Stack led a ragtag army of rebels to put an end to despotism, corruption, and greed in a small South American state.

One old man holding a half-empty bottle of tequila was asked by an American journalist if rebel leader Robert Stack was a good candidate to replace El Tigre as the rebellion had routed the regulars.

The old man’s answer referring to bida Robert Stack: “I have seen this country changing leaders every two, three, or five years.” And he pointed to Robert Stack as the next El Tigre for another two, three, or five years.

Still in rags

The old man half-drunk this time, concluded: “Small but poor countries always see el tigre and his rebels every now and then, but the people remain the same, in rags and without food most of the time."

Third World

According to the AFP and PNP there are more than 100 private armies nationwide, mostly in provinces long mired in poverty. These are provinces where people cower in fear of tigers of various shapes who: 1) Prevent progress, 2) personally distribute welfare assistance from tax money, 3) recommend and provide employment, especially to teachers, and 4) give constant and endless lectures on obedience and respect for “elected officials.” (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com)