Davao Cathedral Mass for Duterte Echoes Courtroom Drama Over Legal Intervention
Years ago at the Palace of Justice, I witnessed a colleague fervently argue for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a writ of preliminary injunction against a government-owned bank. "The interest of substantial justice, Your Honor, urgently demands quick judicial intervention," he declared, his voice resonating through the courtroom. "Unless the Court restrains further action by the bank, my client will suffer irreparable injury."
Judge's Probing Questions Highlight Legal Ambiguity
The judge, possibly Gabby Ingles, leaned forward and inquired, "What kind of intervention do you have in mind? What course of action are you suggesting the Court should take?" The lawyer reiterated his request for the TRO and injunction, but the judge pressed further: "But what specifically do you want the court to restrain? The mortgage has been foreclosed, the certificate of sale issued, and title consolidated in the bank's favor after the redemption period expired." The lawyer faltered, mumbling again about substantial justice before the judge mercifully ended the exchange, ordering a memorandum submission.
San Pedro Cathedral Mass Sparks Similar Reflections
This courtroom memory resurfaced after reading about the Bring Him Home mass at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City. While God's mercy is boundless, even to mockers, it prompts the question: what intervention are the faithful seeking? Are they hoping the International Criminal Court (ICC) will review the "confirmation of charges" hearings and find insufficient evidence for a full trial, leading to case dismissal? Or that the ICC, after consistently deeming Duterte fit for trial, will reverse its stance due to alleged physical and cognitive health issues?
Criticism and Irony in Faith-Based Appeals
Critics may dismiss this expression of faith by Duterte supporters as belated and self-serving, but renewal knows no time limits, and prayers for special intentions are common. However, an ironic twist emerges: as bells rang in hope at the cathedral and other worship sites where Duterte faithfuls gathered to pray for "Tatay's" safe return, some cult members spread rumors that ICC judges have been bribed. Instead of aiding their cause through self-help, they complicate matters by disparaging the very judges they seek to influence.
This parallels the courtroom colleague's vague plea—do they truly understand their goals and the means to achieve them? The scene underscores a broader theme of unclear strategies in both legal and spiritual appeals, leaving observers to ponder the efficacy of such interventions in high-stakes scenarios.
