Supreme Court justices donate 18 tons of vegetables to 16 community pantries this morning. Sources say personal funds of the magistrates were used in purchasing the vegetables.
Present during the turnover of the donations are justices Jhosep Lopez, Edgardo delos Santos, Marvic Leonen and Mario Lopez as well as Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Justice Ramon Paul Hernando. More justices expected to arrive shortly.
The vegetables the SC magistrates donated were sourced from Luzon farmers, a source says.
Joining the other SC justices for their community pantry turn-over is Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is also here.
LOOK: Justices Jhosep Lopez (left) and Edgardo Delos Santos (right) wear shirts with #BestBarEver2020_21 printed on their back. Bar Chair Justice Marvic Leonen has an advice for Bar candidates: Bar muna bago jowa.
Among the beneficiaries of the SC community pantry are the indigent ward of the Philippine General Hospital, Manila Police District and other community pantries in NCR.
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In the Philippines, a single mother, detained for 17 years, walks free after a judge found her to be "at the wrong place at the wrong time" when a kidnapping incident took place.
In 17 yrs, she didn't see her 8-yr-old boy grow up. She lost her father 2 months before her release.
How did this happen? Her lawyer says the case was complicated with several police witnesses. “Pops,” not her real name, was 1 of 10 accused, who all testified and presented their own witnesses.
8 of the accused, including 2 policemen, were convicted of kidnapping for ransom.
Pops had no idea that her cop-boyfriend was involved in kidnapping. She was arrested because she was in the same car when her boyfriend was caught. But she was never seen during the abduction and detention of the kidnap victim.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo meets the press for the first time as top magistrate. For the first time, 12 other SC justices join him. SC celebrates 120th anniversary today.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo speaks to the media for the first time since he was appointed. Says the most valuable resource of any organization is its personnel. Reports that 1,994 employees of SC, CA, SB, CTA and trial courts have been afflicted with COVID19.
Gesmundo: Of 1,994 employees of SC, CA, SB, CTA, trial courts who were infected with COVID19:
1,846 - recovered
33 - died
115 - active cases
Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso III secures a writ of habeas data order from Court of Appeals. CA orders govt agencies to remove his name from the March 2019 narco-list and destroy all related docs, records, info.
In granting the privilege of the writ of habeas data to Veloso, CA rejected the govt’s defense of national security. While no universally-accepted def’n of national security, CA says it refers to protection of nation’s existence, territorial integrity, national sovereignty.
Veloso, the current House justice committee chair, filed the petition for the issuance of the writ of habeas data in March 2019 shortly after he was included in gov’t narco-list. He denied allegation and said PDEA had cleared him of drug links.
NOW: At a PH Bar Association webinar on the West PH Sea this morning, retired SC SAJ Antonio Carpio says there are 2 challenges to enforcement of 2016 arbitral award: China and President Rodrigo Duterte.
Carpio enumerates instances when Duterte committed "self-inflicted blows":
-Duterte set aside award to secure $22B loans and investments from China but on less than 5% has so far materialized
-Sept 2016: Duterte said PH navy will patrol only territorial seas, not EEZ
Carpio enumerates instances when Duterte committed "self-inflicted blows":
-Duterte entered into verbal fishing agreement with Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping, a derogation of exclusive sovereign right of Filipinos to fish in WPS
-Duterte admitted being "inutil" in defending WPS
Ret. SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio responds to Pres Duterte’s statement last night taunting him: “If you’re bright, why did we lose the West Philippine Sea?”
Carpio: Pres Aquino won South China Sea Arbitration; Pres Duterte set it aside.
Carpio explained that he was still with the Judiciary when China grabbed Scarborough Shoal in 2012 (Executive determines foreign policy) but he pushed to fight China’s 9-dash line by enforcing UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. PH won arbitration in July 2016.
Carpio reminds Duterte that he “set aside” arbitration win in exchange for $22B loans and grants from China, of which not even 5% has materialized. Duterte allowed Chinese to fish in West PH Sea despite admitting fish there is not enough for PH.
Justice Sec Menardo Guevarra on ANC's Headstart said distribution of ivermectin, not registered for human use in PH, "apparently violates the FDA law."
Will there be basis for warrantless arrests of Rep. Mike Defensor and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta?
No categorical answer from SOJ.
Guevarra notes there are 2 exemptions for distribution of ivermectin cited by FDA director general: thru compassionate use authorization and when it is compounded by duly licensed pharmacies. In both cases, these should be supported by doctor's prescription.
Guevarra: So, if Rep. Defensor and Rep. Marcoleta's act of distributing ivermectin would fall under any of these 2 situations, it would appear that they can put this up as a defense just in case a complaint is filed.