A kinder, gentler judiciary

Carmela N. Noblejas lamented that “[g]rant of bail in a capital offense on never-before-heard-of ‘humanitarian’ grounds…’” (Letters, 3/5/20).

With all due respect, I had heard about such compassion before. And a prime beneficiary was Benigno Aquino Sr., charged with collaboration in the People’s Court right after World War II.

In allowing bail in a capital offense, the Supreme Court in De la Rama vs The People’s Court, 77 Phil. 468 (1946), noted that the “People’s Court has adopted and applied the well-established doctrine cited in our above-quoted resolution in several cases, among them, the cases against Pio Duran (case No. 3324) and Benigno Aquino (case No. 3527), in which the said defendants were released on bail on the ground that they were ill and their continued confinement in New Bilibid Prison would be injurious to their health or endanger their life.”

Libertarian Gregorio Perfecto dissented and even wanted the Supreme Court to order immediate release, bypassing the People’s Court. A humanitarian libertarian Supreme Court is nothing new.

Released in his early 50s, Benigno Sr. (“Igno”) passed away due to cardiac arrest in Rizal Memorial on Dec. 20, 1947, while watching a boxing bout with Ninoy, who had his own cardiac concerns.

A kind and gentle judiciary is not wrong, provided that we observe the like-case-like-treatment principle.

R.A.V. SAGUISAG
Palanan, Makati City