Chief justice hits sorry state of RP

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Reynato Puno yesterday said that with the sorry state of the nation, Filipinos have no reason to celebrate Independence Day.

Addressing a crowd that gathered at the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to celebrate Independence Day, Puno called on the people to unite to be able to save a country that he likened to a volcano about to erupt.

“Let us heal wounds of our divisiveness. Let us stop mudslinging, disrespecting and using obscene words against one another. Let us not divide ourselves as Filipinos,” he said.

The Chief Justice emphasized that authentic freedom will not be obtained with the divisiveness among Filipinos and other pressing problems like moral bankruptcy mainly because of corruption and poverty.

“We have no reason to celebrate our freedom if this is the situation in our country,” he said.

Puno said the problems of the country could be solved only if Filipinos would act to further develop and uplift the plight of marginalized sectors and uphold the common interest for the nation.

“A country that does not follow laws, a country whose morality is in tatters because of corruption, a country that is like a volcano that is on the brink of an explosion,” he said in describing the current state of the nation.

He also reiterated that the current structure of Philippine society was not made for a successful democracy because the few elite are in control of the country, the middle class is weak and there is a “sea of poor people.”

The Supreme Court head believes that the perfect democratic society is one “where the elite is not that active, a society wherein you have a strong middle class and society where the majority of the people will not belong to the poor classes.”

Asked if he has changed his mind on his decision not to venture into politics, Puno replied in the negative.

“If I enter politics, certainly, I will have no option but to get out of the Court. But I have previously answered that question,” he said.

But the chief justice hinted that the mounting calls for him to run as president next year appear to him as a “temptation.”

“I am praying the Lord’s prayer, lead me not into temptation,” he said.

In the Pulse Asia survey last month, Puno enjoyed a 34 percent approval rating, which means he is among the most trusted public officials today.

He had been called earlier by the United Opposition (UNO) to lead a transitional government, but he said he wasn’t sure how it could happen within the limits of the current Constitution.

Puno has been pushing for a moral force that will form guidelines in electing a transformational leader who has “interest for the sake of the greater whole” and ensure a clean and honest 2010 elections.

“Let us not wait for leaders for all of us can lead,” he added. –-Edu Punay with Pete Laude, Philippine Star