SolGen as ‘tribune of the people’
Solicitor General Jose Calida announced with unconcealed alacrity that his office will appeal the decision of Judge Andres Soriano nixing an arrest warrant against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with the long-dismissed Oakwood mutiny case.
[Actually, it was presidential spoikesperson Salvador Panelo who made the announcement. –Ed.]
This was shot down by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who asserted that his office has exclusive and primary jurisdiction to elevate the case.
Article continues after this advertisementDamn right; the Office of the Solicitor General is not the prosecution arm of the government.
As solicitor general, Calida is supposed to be the tribune of the people.
A tribune by definition is “a government official in ancient Rome whose job was to protect the rights of ordinary people.”
Article continues after this advertisementCalida the tribune of the people? Far from it.
CARNELL S. VALDEZ, nellvaldez@yahoo.com
