By Al S. Mendoza

 

IT was simply a stunning decision.

I refer to that 13-0 result the Supreme Court had handed down in deciding the protest actions against the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos for the May 9 presidential elections.

It was also surprising because it was a unanimous vote.

Meaning not one justice bothered to dissent.

Not even the fiercely independent Marvic Leonen, who is famously known to rail against social injustice and the miscarriage of justice.

Petitioners went to the High Court when the Comelec (Commission on Elections) denied their call to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy and to disqualify the son of the former dictator.

Both cases were consolidated and junked by the Comelec days after the May polls.

Two of the 15-man strong Supreme Court chamber were a no-show during the deliberations for various reasons.

Justice Antonio Kho did not participate because he was a member of the Comelec when the Comelec denied the petitions.

Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting also inhibited himself because incumbent Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting is his sister.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court said:

“The court held that in the exercise of its power to decide the present controversy led them to no other conclusion but that respondent Marcos Jr. is qualified to run for and be elected to the public office.”

It further said:  “Likewise, his COC (Certificate of Candidacy), being valid and in accord with the pertinent law, was rightfully upheld by the Comelec.”

Marcos was convicted in 1997 for non-payment of taxes for four years from 1982 to 1985, while he was vice governor and then governor of Ilocos Norte.

Petitioners claim that Bongbong’s criminal conviction has perpetually disqualified him from holding public office.

They went to the Supeme Court after the Comelec allowed Marcos to run for president.

Bongbong’s lawyer, George Briones, congratulated Justice Rodil Zalamea, the verdict’s ponente (author), for coming up with “a learned decision that gained the unanimous vote of all the members of the court.”

Briones also made special mention of “respected Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who we esteem highly as a fellow alumnus of the U.P. College of Law.”

The Court’s decision came on June 28, just two days before and in time for Bongbong’s swearing in on June 30 after Senate President Tito Sotto read the proclamation’s dispositive portion at the National Museum in Manila.

Bongbong becomes the country’s 17th president and third scion of a former president after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Diosdado Macapagal) in 2001 and 2004 and Benigno Aquino III (Cory Aquino) in 2010.

Some, if not many, of us may not be as happy seeing the son of the man that suppressed press freedom and killed democracy from 1972 to 1986 come to power.

But bite the bullet we must.

It is what it is.

Who said life is fair?

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