New California Chief Justice leads Fil-Am winners in US polls - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

New California Chief Justice leads Fil-Am winners in US polls - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for FilipinosNew California Chief Justice leads Fil-Am winners in US polls


By Nimfa U. Rueda
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:38:00 11/04/2010

LOS ANGELES—Several Filipino-Americans emerged as winners in Tuesday’s elections in California and Hawaii.

Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye will begin her tenure as California’s Chief Justice in January. Three others in the state were reelected mayor—Cristopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, Pete Sanchez of Suisun City in Solano County, and Jose Esteves of Milpitas.

Cantil-Sakauye is the first Asian, first Filipino and the second woman to become Chief Justice in California. Sixty-seven percent voted “yes” to her appointment.

Cabaldon won by 64.2 percent over his opponent, Greg Potnick, with 35.8 percent. Sanchez got 67 percent of the votes, while Esteves led his rivals with 42.3 percent.

Mike Guingona, Rob Bonta and Pat Gacoscos topped the city council elections in Daly City, Alameda City and Union City, respectively. Hydra Mendoza was No. 1 in the race for the San Francisco School Board.

Myrna de Vera won a seat in the Hercules City council, while Joanne del Rosario was reelected to the Colma town council.

New leadership level

These victories demonstrated a new level of political leadership by Filipino-Americans, according to Dexter Ligot-Gordon, chair of Kaya (Filipino Americans for Progress). “They also showed that Fil-Ams, as a constituency, must be recognized and sought after,” he said.

Kaya endorsed many of the Filipino-American Democratic candidates.

In Hawaii, unofficial and partial results showed Kymberly Marcos Pine, a Republican, heading for a landslide victory in her bid to be reelected state House representative in District 43.

As of presstime, Pine enjoyed a wide margin, with 66.3 percent of the votes, over her challenger Jason Bradshaw’s 31.4 percent.

Pine’s grandfather, Nemesio Marcos, came from Ilocos Norte and fought in World War II.

SC gives UP law profs 20-day reprieve - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

SC gives UP law profs 20-day reprieve - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for FilipinosSC gives UP law profs 20-day reprieve

But no plan to withdraw show-cause order

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:36:00 11/04/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court Wednesday gave another 20 days for the 37 University of the Philippines law professors to file their comment on the show-cause order that the tribunal issued against them.

Since the high court was still in recess, only Chief Justice Renato Corona acted on the request of the embattled UP law faculty, Supreme Court administrator and spokesperson Midas Marquez said.

UP College of Law dean Marvic Leonen and 36 other faculty members were initially directed by the magistrates to file their comment 10 days after they issued the show-cause order on Oct. 20.

“Considering that time is of the essence, the Chief Justice, without waiting for the en banc session, has granted all the motions for the 20-day extension filed by the UP (faculty),” Marquez said in a text message last night.

In an earlier news briefing, he said the high court was “considering” the sentiments of groups and legal luminaries, among them constitutionalist and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Fr. Joaquin Bernas, who had expressed support for the UP faculty.

“They are being taken consideration by the court. But the court would rather wait for the compliance of the law dean and professors,” he said.

Asked if the tribunal would eventually withdraw the show-cause order, Marquez said: “Well, there is no indication to that effect.”

The high court ordered the law professors to explain why they should not be sanctioned for supposedly violating the lawyer’s code of ethics after they issued a scathing statement against Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo.

Del Castillo was accused by lawyers Harry Roque and Rommel Bagares of plagiarizing his decision on the reparation case filed by World War II “comfort women.”

Bar exam blast probe panel releases recommendations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Bar exam blast probe panel releases recommendations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Bar exam blast probe panel releases recommendations
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:38:00 11/04/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Starting next year, law schools will oversee the traditional “bar operations” of fraternities, sororities and other groups to prevent a repeat of the violence that marred the Sept. 26 bar examinations.

This was among the recommendations that a special Supreme Court committee formed to investigate the grenade attack submitted to Chief Justice Renato Corona, Supreme Court administrator and spokesman Midas Marquez said Wednesday.

However, only 10 pages of the 50-page report were released to the media.

“This report would be helpful… for the conduct of future bar examinations. It contains the security protocols and guidelines,” Marquez said in a press conference.

The report, prepared by the body headed by Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr., was made public nearly two weeks after it was submitted to Corona.

Marquez said the tribunal decided not to divulge the findings on the criminal liabilities of certain personalities in deference to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Anyway, those (proposals) about the criminal aspect have already been superseded by the events that transpired after the submission of the report,” he said, referring to the surrender of principal suspect Anthony Nepomuceno and the filing of charges against him.

According to Marquez, the committee report would be presented to the court en banc and Associate Justice Roberto Abad, the chair of the 2011 bar exams.

He said it would be up for Abad which recommendations would be adopted to ensure the safety of those taking the bar exams.

While the report did not identify any persons who could be behind the attack, he said the information given to the committee were “consistent” with the recent developments of the case.

“The initial information that the NBI has been giving the court is consistent with what are coming out in the reports from the justice department,” Marquez said.

Among the committee’s recommendations were:

• For the NBI to continue its investigation and bring the case to its conclusion;

• For the NBI to immediately start the prosecution of the suspects that it had identified;

• For the Manila Police District to pursue its own investigation of the incident;

• Strictly enforce the modified Supreme Court guidelines on the bar exams;

• To consider the “bar operations” as official school activity;
Put up perimeter fences 200 meters away from the venue of the bar exams from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and;

• Order school authorities to regulate the traditional “salubong” festivities.

Since most frat and sorority members attending the bar operations are also law students, Marquez said deans of law schools should have jurisdiction and “command responsibility” over them.

“The recommendation is for these activities near the exam venues be considered an extension of their respective schools and (treat it) as an academic activity,” he said.

Corona, he said, would closely monitor the probe of the incident “until there’s final conviction for all those behind this crime.”