So, the Supreme Court has increased the fines for “erring judges,” ranging from P1,000 to P200,000 depending on the gravity of the offense, supposedly as a stronger deterrent to plain ineptitude or downright corruption. Worse sanctions, like suspension or dismissal, have been meted out against such “pasaway” judges who have failed to pay heed to the need for the speedy disposition of cases before them, in violation of the Constitution which fixes the period for them to decide cases.
The Constitution also requires the Supreme Court to decide cases within two years only. But being really “supreme,” the high court seems to consider itself above the Constitution and thinks little or nothing at all of its own circumvention of the fundamental law! “Justice delayed is justice denied” is a mantra that should be mainly directed at the Supreme Court, which has had no problem adding a zero to that two-year deadline.
How about also imposing hefty fines on the “pasaway” justices of the Supreme Court who fail to beat the constitutional deadline in cases assigned to them? The fines should be chargeable against their more than half-a-million monthly emoluments or against their multimillion retirement benefits. Otherwise, what moral ascendancy does the Supreme Court have to expect lower court magistrates to behave like saints?
Rimaldo Pacificopacific.rim.aldo@gmail.com