Great reporting on SC’s RH proceeding

I would like to commend Christine Avendaño’s report on the Supreme Court proceeding last July 9.

With a busy schedule, my major source of news is the newspaper, which I read when I come home. The way Avendaño wrote the banner story felt like I was right in the Supreme Court watching the proceeding. I think Avendaño was a good choice to cover the Supreme Court proceeding because, clearly, lavish (and sensational) writing styles alone would not have done justice to the story. The journalist must clearly capture the substance and not just rely on form. Avendaño’s article actually did that.

The last part on the exchange between the justices and lawyer Concepcion Noche was written well. I felt like I was watching a tennis match. It was objective, but at the same time it gave one a good enough thrilling feel to want to continue reading until the end. Too much sensationalism for this topic (especially when the Supreme Court is involved) will leave a bad taste, and I’m glad Avendaño did not resort to that.

I guess Avendaño and Noche have one thing in common. Whether for or against the Reproductive Health Law, they both did their homework and studied their tasks well. Avendaño really exerted an effort to follow the proceeding and did not rely on sensational conjectures. On the part of Noche, she was able to answer the justices and she was prepared. What struck me was that she was able to point out that the Constitutional Commission that put together the 1987 Constitution did clarify the concept of conception.

I was just disappointed with Justice Marvic Leonen for not knowing that. I’m not a lawyer, but I think that every law student studying the 1987 Constitution would be familiar with its provisions and the intent of those who framed it. If you’re going to interpret the Constitution, shouldn’t you be at least familiar with those things?

I hope the Inquirer will continue to cover the Supreme Court proceedings. The Inquirer is doing ordinary Filipinos like me a great service. Thank you.

 —FLOYD BATONGBAKAL, floydbatongbakal@yahoo.com