Lo cortes no quita lo valiente

Malacañang supports the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in looking into the supposed role of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte, a presidential wannabe, in executing criminals in the city. Whoever it is referring to, the implementation of the law should be fairly done, Communications Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said.

We should not create false hopes. A confession is no more a proof of guilt than a denial is of innocence (which is presumed). The State always has to build a case proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

No corpus delicti, no case. Since the victims would appear to be yagits, riffraff, etc., out of the long ago, it is a question whether anyone would step forward to offend anyone who announced that he would slap administration candidate Mar Roxas next time they met.

Worrisome is this threat, from where I sit.

I was out of the country from May 22, 1967 to December 30, 1970. Which meant I did not handle as a teacher Digong and the Bedan frat members who now figure in a tempest, in a teapot, from where I sit. I have no idea if Digong was ever under our eminent Civil Law teacher, Prof. Eduardo Caguioa. The 60's were still yo-so-soy-bososoy time in San Beda. Spanish priests and Tisoys galore. Justice Caguioa stressed civility, lo cortes no quita lo valiente or la cortesia no quita la valentia, he said. Courtesy does not detract from valor. We cannot have a boor for a Prez.

We should return or stress Good Manners and Right Conduct, pounded on us in my time in Makati Elem and Rizal Hi. In San Beda, lo cortes no quita lo valiente.

On the reported frat reunion, maybe it's best to have Justices avoid socializing even with brods. Nang wala nang masabi. Prudential considerations require fifteen hermits.

In my youth, Justices were read, but not seen nor heard.

When Chief Justice Concepcion was first named CFI Judge in the South, his movement was limited to casera, iglesia y juzgado (boarding house, church and court), he said. Justices were allowed to teach then so we were lucky to have him in Political Law in our senior year in San Beda.

Invited to speak by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Justice Celing Muñoz Palma declined, but on reconsideration agreed; anyway, it was the national association of lawyers.

But, a Justice cannot be too punctilious. Back to Digong. I marched with his Mom in Davao in protest over Ninoy's salvaging. But, where was he? Davao resonated with the names of Ilagan, Arellano, Risonar, Respicio, and other human rights advocates, but where was Digong? Was he even then a gross human rights violator?

He is reported to favor moving Marcos to the Libingan ng mga Bayani at a time when the claims of 75,000 applicants are being processed by the human rights compensation board. Let a decent interval pass and then his remains may be moved to what shall have been renamed Libingan ng mga Bayani Atbp.

Should leaders be role models?? Should they show breeding? Should Mar Roxas seek to elevate Digong Duterte, or join him in the gutter? Of course Oscar Wilde said we're all in the gutter anyway but some of us are looking at the stars.

So Mar and Digong will sampal each other. Sad. Of course they may do it with a glove to spark a duel, not sanctioned by law either. Rev. Penal Code, Arts. 260-61. But, better than magsabunutan.

Forget Digong's braggadocio. No one can now be prosecuted for the 1983 Aquino-Galman salvaging because of the statute of limitations. Were I to confess to the 1991 Vizconde Massacre, I cannot be touched by the law either for the same reason.

Rene Saguisag is a former senator who authored RA 6713, The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees.

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