At any other time, bar topnotcher lawyer Manuel “Dondi” Teehankee would have been a welcome addition to the Supreme Court. His name has just been submitted as one of the four applicants to fill a seat in that body.

But not this time, Dondi, not when you and your family owe the sitting president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, BIG TIME – namely, her highly controversial grant of executive clemency in October last year to your older brother, Claudio Junior, who was convicted of double murder.

Not when Arroyo is also a charter member of your family’s Claudio Teehankee Memorial Foundation, which was named after your late esteemed father.

And not when Pres. Arroyo is also your sister’s classmate and Arroyo calls your mom “Tita Pilar” and she remembers you as this cute “baby doll”.

Do you recall that in 2001, your family foundation gave Pres. Arroyo the “rule of law” award. And from Arroyo’s speech, which I am reprinting in full below, you can see how chummy she is with your family.

In one part of that speech, Pres. Arroyo fondly recalled the time when you were trundled off to Assumption College where your older sister studied:

“I STILL REMEMBER WHEN DONDI WAS A BABY, PRICY AND I WERE CLASSMATES AND SHE HAD HER BABY BROTHER DONDI AND WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT TO ASSUMPTION AND WE WERE ALL SAYING, “HI DONDI, HOW CUTE, HI DONDI,” AND THEN ONE OF THE NUNS SAID, “OH HOW NICE HE SPEAKS SPANISH.” BECAUSE DONDI, DONDE.

BUT I WAS VERY PROUD WHEN LATER ON THAT BABY THAT WE WERE ALL PLAYING WITH LIKE A DOLL BECAME NUMBER ONE IN THE BAR, AND NOW I AM DOUBLY PROUD THAT THIS BAR TOPNOTCHER — WHOM I SAW WHEN HE WAS A BABY — IS NOW HELPING ME CARRY OUT THE RULE OF LAW.”

In another part of her speech, Pres. Arroyo said:

“MY FATHER SAID, THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE PRESIDENT IS NOT TO DISPENSE FAVORS BUT TO DISPENSE JUSTICE.”

Eighteen years ago, your brother Claudio Jr. killed in cold blood Swedish-Filipino Maureen Hultman, 16, and Roland Chapman, 21, her American friend whose father worked at the US Embassy. He also shot and seriously wounded Jussi Leino, a Finn in his early 20s.

The three friends had gone out to celebrate Maureen’s first pay check and the two young men were escorting her back to her home inside a gated community in Makati City when Claudio appeared from nowhere and demanded to know who they were and ask for their ID.

When Roland asked why, Claudio simply shot him dead. And then he forced Maureen, who had gone hysterical, to sit on the sidewalk beside Jussi. He shot Jussi in the face and Maureen in the forehead. But Jussi survived to testify.

Two other witnesses confirmed Jussi’s testimony.

Claudio has never admitted to the killings and has never said sorry. During the trial, his lawyer even tried to pin the murder on Maureen’s Swedish stepfather, Anders.

Claudio was found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” and sentenced by the Supreme Court to one life term plus at least 16 years, and ordered to pay at least 12 million pesos in moral and exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees. A life sentence usually means at least 20 years in jail, but this could have been cut by good behavior making Claudio eligible for release by 2011, according to Raul Gonzalez, Arroyo’s justice secretary then and now her presidential legal counsel.

Arroyo, for reasons she has never shared with the Filipino people who had installed her president only three months before she gave this speech, suddenly commuted Claudio’s sentence last year. At the time he was released, Claudio had not yet paid his civil liabilities to Roland’s family and to Jussi. Only the Hultmans had been paid.

Dondi, the fingerprints of your family including your own were all over that presidential action. To defend your brother’s sudden release, you even had to phone Manila radio stations all the way from Geneva where you were stationed as the Philippine permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, a post you also owed to Mrs Arroyo.

Given all these, can you be an impartial member of the Supreme Court?

Besides, an 84-page petition is still pending with the Supreme Court asking the body to nullify the clemency granted to your brother on grounds of “grave abuse of discretion”.

I address you as Dondi because once upon a time we happened to have been thrown together for nearly a month. I got to know you then and found you to be very smart – in the mind and in high-end fashion.

If you get appointed to the Supreme Court at this time, people will always say it’s because Arroyo may want you to return the favor if, you know, she or her family should happen to have to petition the Supreme Court.

Newspapers are playing you up as the son of former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee” who had died before your brother had committed the murders. What would your father do now, do you think, in your position?

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PGMA’s Speech during the Presentation Ceremonies of the Rule of Law Award given by the Claudio Teehankee Foundation and the Center for the Rule of Law Ateneo Profession Schools Building, Rockwell, Makati City (April 18, 2001) (Source: page 53 in http://www.humanrights.gov.ph/docs/pgmahrspeeches.pdf)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY FELLOW AWARDEE, FILIPINO OF THE YEAR 2000 AND FILIPINO FOR ALL SEASONS, CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO DAVIDE; MRS. DAVIDE; FR. NEBRES; FR. BERNAS; FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PELAEZ; FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT SALONGA; JUSTICE MUÑOZ-PALMA AND THE OTHER OFFICIALS; MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CLAUDIO TEEHANKEE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION; THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION — AND I’M VERY PROUD THAT HE IS A MEMBER OF MY GOVERNMENT AS UNDERSECRETARY OF JUSTICE — DONDI TEEHANKEE; MRS. BETH DAY ROMULO; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I MUST ALSO GREET OF COURSE THE MEMBERS OF THE TEEHANKEE FAMILY NOT ONLY DONDI, BUT TITA PILAR AND MY CLASSMATE PRICY. THAT’S THE REASON WHY I BECAME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE TEEHANKEE FOUNDATION BECAUSE OF PRICY, AND NOW WITH CHIEF JUSTICE AND I RECEIVING THIS AWARD, I COULDN’T HELP BUT WHISPER TO FR. BERNAS WHAT A HOMETOWN DECISION. BUT I’M VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I’M RECEIVING AN AWARD TOGETHER WITH CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE, AND THAT I AM RECEIVING AN AWARD IN MEMORY OF THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE CLAUDIO TEEHANKEE.

THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE SAID THAT “THE RULE OF LAW IS THE BASIS OF ANY CIVILIZED SOCIETY — AND IT IS HERE — A LAW THAT UPHOLDS HUMAN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM AND PROTECTS HUMAN RIGHTS.” THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR DEMOCRACY WITH A GOVERNMENT WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SOVEREIGNTY RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE. AND THIS PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGNTY RESIDING IN THE PEOPLE WAS THE PRINCIPLE THAT WAS INVOKED WHEN CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE SAID THAT HE WOULD ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE OF MY POSITION AS PRESIDENT ON THAT DAY JANUARY 20th. INDEED, NOTHING CAN BE MORE DEMORALIZING TO THE MASS OF THE PEOPLE THAN TO SEE PUBLIC OFFICIALS UNINHIBITED BY OLD, CONVENTIONAL PRACTICES BECAUSE THEY ARE LEFT DISCONCERTINGLY WITHOUT A CODE OF ETHICS TO GUIDE AND RESTRAIN THEM.

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED AT EDSA DOS. AND IF THERE IS ONE LESSON WHICH THE STORY OF PEOPLE POWER 2 HAS CLEARLY SHOWN, IT IS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE GROWN ALERT IF NOT CRITICAL OF GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE EXPECT RESULTS AND GOOD BEHAVIOR AND CREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FROM GOVERNMENT.

THEY WILL NO LONGER SIMPLY SIT AND WATCH NEGLECT, INCOMPETENCE AND ABUSE FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THEY WANT GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THEY DEMAND GOOD GOVERNANCE.

CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE SAID, “THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE NECESSARILY CONNOTE A RULE OF LAW AND NOT OF MEN.” HIS ROLE IN EDSA 1 PREFIGURED THE ROLE OF CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE IN EDSA 2. IN THE CASE OF CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE, HE ADMINISTERED THE OATH OF OFFICE TO CORY AQUINO WHO WON IN THE ELECTIONS BUT WAS LOSING IN THE COUNTING, AND HE WAS CONVINCED TO ADMINISTER THE OATH — AS WE’VE ALREADY HEARD FROM CHIEF JUSTICE PALMA BY HER REQUEST TO HIM. IN THE CASE OF CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE, IT WAS HE WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO ME BECAUSE I AM THE CONSTITUTIONAL SUCCESSOR. AT THE TIME OF MARTIAL LAW THERE WAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL SUCCESSION BUT UNDER OUR PRESENT DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW, THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL SUCCESSION.

CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE, IN RELATING THE EXPERIENCE OF EDSA 1986 SAID, “EDSA 1986 WAS INTENSE, BUT NOT VEHEMENT NOR VIOLENT. EDSA 1986 WAS PASSION EXQUISITE,” HE SAID, “BUT IT WAS RATIONAL, EVEN DIVINE. THE BLIND HATRED OF A MOB OR MINDLESSNESS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE CANNOT DUPLICATE THAT SPIRIT.”

THAT WAS WHAT CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE SAID ABOUT EDSA 1986, BUT IF WE SEE EDSA 2000 THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS AGAIN. THESE TWO DRAMATIC EVENTS SHOWED THAT THERE CAN BE A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POLITICAL POWER WITHOUT RESORTING TO VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED. AND I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE NOT ONLY CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE FOR DECIDING THAT HE MUST ADMINISTER MY OATH OF OFFICE ON THAT DAY BUT ALSO FOR BEING — EVEN IF HE INHIBITED HIMSELF — AN INSPIRATION FOR THE THREE SUPREME COURT RULINGS AFFIRMING THE LEGITIMACY OF MY PRESIDENCY. I THINK CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE AND I THANK THE OTHER JUSTICES FOR THAT RULING. IT WAS PROVIDENTIAL THAT CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE AND JUSTICE PANGANIBAN WOULD BE CONSTRAINED TO INHIBIT THEMSELVES, OTHERWISE THE VOTING WOULD HAVE BEEN 15-0 RATHER THAN 13-0.

BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO INHIBIT THEMSELVES, THEN IT WAS POETIC JUSTICE. 13-0 REMINDS US THAT IF THREE TIMES THE SUPREME COURT VOTED 13-0 PERHAPS ON MAY 14 THE REST OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL ALSO VOTE 13-0.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF EDSA 2, VOCIFEROUS CALLS FOR A QUICK ACTION WITH REGARD TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT CREATED SOMEWHAT THE PERCEPTION OF A LYNCH MOB DEMANDING VENGEFUL RETRIBUTION. NOT ONLY WERE THERE VOCIFEROUS IMPATIENT CALLS FOR DONDI AND HIS BOSS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ACT MORE QUICKLY, THERE WERE ALSO THE SAME CALLS FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE MORE QUICKLY. BUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTED IN ITS GOOD TIME, THE SUPREME COURT ACTED THREE TIMES IN ITS GOOD TIME AND WE ARE STILL CONTINUING WITH THE RULE OF LAW. PRUDENCE WOULD RATHER DICTATE THAT THE STEPS WE TAKE MUST BE CERTAIN AND DECISIVE RATHER THAN RASH AND VINDICTIVE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HEALING. THE WOUNDS WE ARE NURSING NEED NOT BE GAPED OPEN EVEN FURTHER.

IN THE PROCESS OF HEALING AND RENEWING, WE MUST SHOW TO EVERYBODY, THAT NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW, AND THAT THE RULE OF LAW PUNISHES THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE LAWS OF THE LAND. THE CRIMINAL LIABILITIES OF AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT BE COMPROMISED BY THE STATE. WE SHALL THEREFORE LET THE JUDICIAL PROCESS TAKE ITS COURSE IN THE CASE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR COUNTRY WILL REMAIN FIRM AND STRONG EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AS IT DID IN THE ADVERSITY OF THE PAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.

AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE REMAIN AND BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND THEIR SOVEREIGN POWER, THE RULE OF LAW AWARD SHALL BE GIVEN AND HANDED OUT TO PEOPLE WHO STAND BY IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO ITS STRENGTHENING. I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND HONORED THAT THE TEEHANKEE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES THAT I STOOD BY THE RULE OF LAW AND, AS CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE SAID, IT WAS AN ACT OF COURAGE. AN ACT OF COURAGE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL COURAGE BUT MAYBE EVEN MORAL COURAGE BECAUSE I HAD GIVEN MY WORD THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ESTRADA, I WOULD WAIT FIVE DAYS FOR A TRANSITION, BUT WHEN CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE, THROUGH JUSTICE PANGANIBAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT, SAID THAT I MUST NOW TAKE MY OATH, I WAS STILL HESITATING AND I TOLD THE REPORTERS, “WELL, THAT MEANS THAT I CAN TAKE MY OATH OF OFFICE ANYTIME AFTER JANUARY 20th 12 O’CLOCK” — THAT WAS HOW I INITIALLY INTERPRETED IT.

BUT SENATE PRESIDENT SALONGA KEPT GETTING IN TOUCH WITH EVERYONE HE SAID, “NO, WHEN HE SAID YOU TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AT 12 NOON YOU MUST TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AT 12 NOON.”

AND WHEN PRESIDENT AQUINO AND CARDINAL SIN AND SENATOR RAUL ROCO WERE ALL TELLING ME THAT AND GIVING ME ALL THE LEGAL AND THE PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS, I PRAYED ABOUT IT. AND AS I PRAYED ABOUT IT I GOT A CALL FROM MALACAÑANG FROM FORMER SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE DE VILLA AND ALSO FORMER SENATOR ALBERTO ROMULO SAYING THAT THEY WERE QUIBBLING TOO MUCH ABOUT THE WORDING OF THE RESIGNATION LETTER. AND I SAID, “WELL, IF THEY WERE QUIBBLING TOO MUCH ABOUT THE WORDING OF THE RESIGNATION LETTER THEN I SHALL EXERCISE THE DAVIDE OPTION.” AFTER THAT I PUT DOWN THE PHONE AND BECAUSE JUST BEFORE THAT PHONE CALL WAS MADE, PRESIDENT AQUINO WAS THE LAST ONE TELLING ME, “NO YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AT NOON.” SO WHEN I PUT DOWN THE PHONE — THIS WAS IN CARDINAL SIN’S PALACE — I SAID, “TITA CORY, YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND I’M TAKING MY OATH OF OFFICE AT NOON.”

IT WAS THE LORD WHO MADE ME DECIDE BECAUSE BETWEEN THE ADVISE OF WISE MEN AND A WOMAN LIKE SENATE PRESIDENT SALONGA, PRESIDENT AQUINO AND SENATOR ROCO AND ALSO CARDINAL SIN, AND THE CONFUSION THAT WAS ENSUING IN MALACAÑANG AT THAT TIME, THE TWO EVENTS CONSPIRED TOGETHER AND THE LORD GAVE ME A MESSAGE THROUGH ALL OF THEM THAT I MUST TAKE THE OPTION THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE WAS OFFERING AND WAS EVEN URGING FOR ME TO TAKE.

AND SO I’M VERY GRATEFUL INDEED AS CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE SAID, THE LORD DECIDED TO INTERVENE DIRECTLY ONCE AGAIN AT THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY. AND AS CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE SAID EDSA WAS DIVINE — AND HE WAS SPEAKING NOT ONLY ABOUT EDSA 1 BUT HE WAS SPEAKING ALSO ABOUT EDSA 2 BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WAS REALLY BECAUSE OF DIVING INTERVENTION AND THE LORD WAS THE ONE WHO ORCHESTRATED THE TIMING AND THE LORD WAS THE ONE WHO INSPIRED ALL OF US TO DO WHAT WE HAD TO DO. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS STILL THE LORD WHO INSPIRED THE 13 JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT TO MAKE THEIR DECISION THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

AND SO I’M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU’RE ALL HERE TONIGHT IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE THE RULE OF LAW. THE RULE OF LAW MUST PREVAIL. IT MUST ALWAYS BE ABOVE THE WHIMS AND CAPRICES OF MEN. IT MUST APPLY TO EVERYBODY EQUALLY, THE RICH AND THE POOR ALIKE, THE HUMBLE AND THE POWERFUL. NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW, INCLUDING THOSE WHO IMAGINE THEMSELVES TO WALK THE CORRIDORS OF POWER.

PRESENTLY, IN FACT, IN THE KILOS BAYAN AFFAIR WHERE WE ALSO HONORED CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE, I SAID, “THERE SHOULD BE NO CORRIDORS OF POWER IN THEIR STEAD, THERE MUST ONLY BE HALLS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AND THIS IS THE WAY IT MUST BE WITH PEOPLE POWER, THIS IS THE WAY IT MUST UNDER THE RULE OF LAW. I AM REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF MY LATE FATHER, PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL.

AND I THANK FR. BERNAS FOR STARTING MY CITATION BY SAYING THAT I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL, MY INSPIRATION.

MY FATHER SAID, THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE PRESIDENT IS NOT TO DISPENSE FAVORS BUT TO DISPENSE JUSTICE. THESE WORDS WERE SPOKEN 40 YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE FIRST SENTENCE OF HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

WHEN I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY OATH I WANTED TO LOOK FOR MY FATHER’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS SO THAT I COULD QUOTE FROM IT AND PARAPHRASE IT. BUT THERE WAS VERY VERY LITTLE TIME BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY AT ABOUT 10 O’CLOCK THAT I DECIDED TO WRITE THE SUPREME COURT AND SAY THAT I AM NOW READY TO TAKE MY OATH. AND THEN I HAD TO GO BACK TO LINDEN SUITES — IT WAS OUR SAFE HOUSE — AND THAT GAVE ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE OUT AN INAUGURAL ADDRESS AND CHANGE INTO A SUIT FROM THE JEANS THAT I WAS WEARING THAT MORNING SO THERE WAS NO TIME TO LOOK FOR MY FATHER’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. BUT SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE TIME, AND I LOOKED AT HIS ADDRESS AND THAT WAS HIS FIRST SENTENCE: THAT A PRESIDENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DISPENSE FAVORS BUT SUPPOSED TO DISPENSE JUSTICE; A PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO CARRY OUT THE RULE OF LAW

WE SAW IN OUR RECENT HISTORY HOW A PRESIDENCY WAS DAMAGED, HOW A PRESIDENCY CAN BE DAMAGED IF JUSTICE IS NOT DISPENSED PROPERLY. THUS, THERE IS ONLY ONE DIRECTION IN THIS ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND THE DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE: THAT IS THE DIRECTION IN FAVOR OF THE HIGHEST PUBLIC GOOD, FOR IT WAS THE HIGHEST PUBLIC GOOD THAT WAS INVOKED WHEN I WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE ME OATH OF OFFICE.

THE VISION IS A SPEEDY AND FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY. THIS ENTAILS A DETERMINED AND CONCERTED EFFORT TO PROSECUTE THOSE WHO VIOLATE OUR LAWS AND GIVE JUSTICE TO THOSE WHOSE RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED. THIS WE PLEDGE TO DO AND THIS WE SHALL UNDERTAKE.

I AM PROUD INDEED THAT DONDI IS THERE HELPING ME. I STILL REMEMBER WHEN DONDI WAS A BABY, PRICY AND I WERE CLASSMATES AND SHE HAD HER BABY BROTHER DONDI AND WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT TO ASSUMPTION AND WE WERE ALL SAYING, “HI DONDI, HOW CUTE, HI DONDI,” AND THEN ONE OF THE NUNS SAID, “OH HOW NICE HE SPEAKS SPANISH.” BECAUSE DONDI, DONDE.

BUT I WAS VERY PROUD WHEN LATER ON THAT BABY THAT WE WERE ALL PLAYING WITH LIKE A DOLL BECAME NUMBER ONE IN THE BAR, AND NOW I AM DOUBLY PROUD THAT THIS BAR TOPNOTCHER — WHOM I SAW WHEN HE WAS A BABY — IS NOW HELPING ME CARRY OUT THE RULE OF LAW.

TODAY, YOUR ROLE DONDI AND THE ROLE OF OTHER LAWYERS AND MEMBERS OF BENEFICIARIES OF THIS CENTER AS LEGAL LUMINARIES AND PROFESSIONALS HAVE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS THE INTRICACIES OF THE LEGAL PROCESS AFFECT SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF EVERY CITIZEN’S LIFE.

YOUR ROLE IN ENSURING THAT OUR PUBLIC AGENCIES SERVE THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST IN AN EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE MANNER IS VITAL TO MAINTAINING THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHILE, I AM GREATLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TONIGHT, I RECOGNIZE THAT THE REAL HEROES IN EDSA DOS ARE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

THUS, THIS AWARD REALLY BELONGS TO ALL OF US — THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. I THEREFORE, ACCEPT THIS AWARD IN THEIR BEHALF , IN YOUR BEHALF AS A REPRESENTATION OF THIS NATION’S STRONG BELIEF AND ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW — NEVER WAVERING, ALWAYS VIGILANT. THAT IS THE WAY WE DID IT IN EDSA 1, THAT IS THE WAY WE DID IT IN EDSA 2, THAT IS THE WAY WE DID IT WITH CHIEF JUSTICE TEEHANKEE, THAT IS THE WAY WE DID IT WITH CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE, THAT IS THE WAY WE WILL DO IT AS LONG AS THESE TWO GREAT MEN ARE THE INSPIRATION OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW AWARDEE.