XVI

Ito ang salaysay ng enkwentro ko kay Sarjay.

Nagtungo kame sa labas ng Quezon City Hall of Justice upang mag-jail visitation sa Molave Youth Center. Ilang hakbang lamang ito sa Hall of Justice. Bago kame umakyat sa piitan ng mga kabataang delingkwente ay tinatakan kame sa kanang kamay ng stamp na nagsasabing “BMJP-MYH VISITOR.” Hindi ko akalain na maliban sa tinta na kulay violet ang tumatak sa aking balat, isang pagtawag ng tulong ng isang bata ang tumatak at kumintil sa aking kaluluwa.

Pagpasok mo sa Youth Center, maamoy mo na ang init, singaw at pawis. Sama-sama sa loob ng kulungang mas maliit pa sa kwartong pang-opisina ang mahigit 30 kabataan. Sa kabilang dako, mas kakaunti ang mga nakakulong na kabataang babae. Unang punta ko sa kulungan ay nuong first year college ako sa AB, sa New Bilibid Prison, kung saan nagtungo kame dun bilang requisite sa subject naming sociology. Ngunit dito, makikita mo ang kaibahan. Miserable, maayos subalit nakalulumbay. Nakakaubos ng pag-asa at saya. Sa hangin pa lamang ay mararamdaman mo na ang pangangati sa katawan. Sanhi siguro ito ng paranoia ng elitismong nakasanayan. Kame, na mga mag-aaral ng batas sa pinakamatandang Universidad sa Asya, nakakakain ng maayos, may pinag-aralan at dekorum, namumuhay ng maayos kundi man marangya. Subalit dahil sa kakaibang karanasan na ito, mararamdaman mo ang isang katotohanan ng buhay na alam lang natin bilang isang soap opera o nakikita sa mga dokumentaryo, nababasa sa pahayagan o aklat.

Naparuon kame upang mag-interview ng mga kliyente na ang mga kaso ay nakahain na sa RTC Branch 225 at 94. Lahat ng mga kliyente ni Atty. Glenda, ang aming supervisor, ang aming iinterview-hin. Dalawa ang ininterview ko, dalawang kabataan na hindi ko na maalala ang pangalan ngayon. Nananatili akong propesyunal sa mga oras na iyon. Isinusulat ko sa report sheet kung ano ang krimen na ginawa, kung ginawa nga ba nila, kung nung hinuli ba sila ay may probable cause o warrant o ibinigay ba sa kanila ang mga karapatan habang iniimbestigahan. Sa dalawang ininterview ko, malinaw ang special affirmative defense. Violation of the custodial rights. Lack of warrant of arrest, lack of personal knowledge of the offense by the arresting officer. Sa korte, motion to dismiss lang yun, tapos na ang kaso. Hindi na kelangan ng kabuuang trial, magkaruon lang ng testimonya sa mga naganap na pag-aresto.

Natapos na ako sa pag-iinterview. Si Ronador, ang aking kaklase at kasamahan sa OJT ay hindi pa. Sa tabi ng iniinterview niyang bata ay may nakatabi pang isang bata. Tinanong ko siya kung tapos na siyang interview-hin. Hindi daw siya mag-papa-interview, kundi kakausapin lang niya si ma’am Glenda. Umalis na ko at nalakad-lakad, inuusisa ang mga sulok at arkiterktura ng Youth Center. Isang kulungang nagkunkunwaring bahay-pag-asa. Isang pag-asang napupupukaw bawat araw habang dinidinig ang mga kaso.

Lumapit sa akin si Sarjay. Si Sarjay ay 16 anyos na binatilyo. Mukhang nag-aaral ng pribadong paaralan. Siya yung batang gustong kumausap kay Atty. Glenda.

Isa siyang bastardo. Pagkatapos mabuntis ang kanyang nanay, iniwan siya ng kanyang tatay. Mahirap lamang sila.

Ang kaso ni Sarjay --- theft. Isang felony na may pataw na parusang reclusion temporal, prision mayor, prision correccional, arresto mayor at arresto menor, depende sa halaga ng bagay na ninakaw.

Tinanong niya sa akin kung ano ang probation. Sinabi ko na ang probation ay binibigay lamang kung na-sentensiyahan na siya, kung ang parusa ay hindi hihigit ng anim na taon. Ibig sabihin ay makakalaya siya, subalit kelangan niyang mag-report sa isang parole officer depende sa mga kundisyon na iniatas, at sa loob ng panahon ng probation, hindi dapat gumawa ng anupamang krimen.

Hindi pa siya na-sesentensiyahan. Binasahan pa lang siya ng sakdal, o ang proseso ng arraignment. Kung saan tatanungin ng korte ang akusado ng “HOW DO YOU PLEA?” At sasabihin ng akusado ang “GUILTY” “NOT GUILTY” o “NO PLEA”

Sinauli ni Sarjay ang bagay na ninakaw niya. Isang beses lang siyang gumawa ng bagay na labag sa batas. Kinulong siya sa presinto bago siya dinala sa Youth Center.

Si Sarjay ay ginagamit ng mga nakakulong sa presinto. Ni-re-rape. Binubugbog.

Sa loob ng Youth Center ay kusa na siyang nag-vo-volunteer upang gumawa at tumulong sa mga Gawain tulad ng paglilinis, paghahanda ng pagkain at kahit ano pa, huwag lamang siyang maisama sa mga ibang kabataan sa loob ng selda. Kahit ayaw na siyang pagawain o utusan, kusa na lamang siyang tumutulong upang makalayo sa pambubugbog at pangungutya ng mga kasamahan.

Binibisita siya ng nanay niya isang beses isang linggo, subalit ngayon, medyo matagal ng hindi bumibisita ang nanay ni Sarjay. Hindi sila pwedeng gumamit ng telepono.

Umiiyak siya habang kinukwento niya sa akin ang mga bagay na ito. Hindi na niya kaya ang nararanasan niya, at maging ako man, na wala pang isang oras sa loob ng Center ay gusto ng umalis at maligo na para bagang lahat ng sala at dungis ay dumikit na sa balat ko.

Lumabas si Atty. Glenda at tinanong ko siya kung ano ang sinasabi ni Sarjay na probation. Yun pala release on recognizance ang dapat.

Ang release on recognizance ay mosyon na inihahain sa korte upang pansamantalang lumaya ang isang akusado habang dinidinig ang kaso. Kung hindi makapag-post ng bail, cash bond, property bond o corporate surety, ang akusado ay pinapalaya pansamantala at inilalagay sa pangangalaga o kustodya ng isang opisyales tulad ng barangay captain, kagawad, mayor, o maging isang taong kilala at may maayos na reputasyon sa lipunan.

Ito ang kelangan ni Sarjay. Nakagawa na ako ng mosyong ito. Sa pamamagitan ng panulat ko, kaya kong bigyan ng kapayapaan si Sarjay. Di tulad ng dalawang kabataang ininterview ko na hindi tumitingin sa aking mata, si Sarjay ay nakatingin sa akin, pinipigil ang luha. Nakikita ko sa kanya ang sinseridad at pagsisisi. Meron pa siyang kinabukasan. Kelangan lang niya ng pagkakataon.

Humingi siya ng pabor sa akin na kung maari ay tawagan ko ang nanay niya. Binigay ko ang bolpen ko at isinulat niya ang telephone number nila.

Dalawang pirasong papel ng mosyon at sinumpaang salaysay lamang ng kagawad na nakakakilala sa kanya ang kelangan ko upang magawa ang Motion to Release on Recognizance. Sa pamamagitan nito, kaya ko siyang palayain. Maisulat ko lang iyon, ibibigay ko na sa supervisor ko upang i-file sa korte. Di malayong pagbigyan ito, dahil liberal ang mga RTC na family court sa mga kabataan.

Makakalaya si Sarjay habang dinidinig ang kaso niya. Mabibigyan siya ng tsansang mag-bago, mag-aral, maramdaman ang buhay ng normal na kabataan.

Minsan sa buhay ng isang tao, mayruong isang estrangherong lalapit sa iyo upang humingi ng tulong. Hindi mo siya kilala, hindi mo kaibigan, hindi mo mahal sa buhay. Hindi bahagi ng trabaho mo ang tulungan siya. But sometimes, compassion compels you to desire to help complete strangers. Sa maikling panahon na nilagi ko sa loob ng PAO, nararamdaman ko kung sino ang talagang nangangailangan ng tulong, at kung sino lamang ang dapat gawan ng mga dokumento dahil bahagi ito ng trabaho ko. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, kelangang kong mapalaya si Sarjay. Wala na akong ibang magagawa, kundi tawagan ang nanay niya, at sumulat ng mosyon at affidavit. Sa munting paraan ko na ito, mapapalaya ko ang batang ito.

Lalaya si Sarjay. Hindi siya makukulong ng matagal.

XV

Who would have thought Monday after office hours and even pre-after office hours in PAO would be happy hour. Masaya pa lang mabitin sa champagne ang ilang abugado dahil kapag sila’y nabitin, magpapabili ng beer. At kung mabitin pa, magpapa-videoke somewhere sa tomas morato. At kung magaling kang dumiskarte, at type mo ang boss mong maganda, you could end up as her boy toy. So, next time, boss should bring her other girl friends. The more, the merrier.

And another thing, there’s this Atenista intern whose definitely trying to win our attention. Hehehe.

XIV

Chief Justice Panganiban, Justices Antonio Carpio and Angelina Gutierrez Sandoval were at the QC Hall of Justice last Friday to launch the e-payment scheme in consortium with the landbank of the Philippines. Yadah-tadah.

The present chief justice doesn’t have the charm of the previous one, who had that mysterious grandeur to his persona, a real statesman, not just a jurist. Well, of course I have a bias for Davide on a personal note. A year ago, I was an ordinary law student who volunteered to be an usher and hold the doors of the Aquinas Conference Hall while guiding frail old justices and lawyers to their seats. I was just holding the door wide open while waiting for the former chief justice to exit, and after the ritual courtesy of thanks, he took a few seconds to stand in front of me, held out his hand to me, and with a firm grip of majestic prince he shook my hand, as if I was anointed by the messiah himself. The present chief justice is more of a politician, and I think I’m even taller than him. He didn’t bedazzle most court employees, until he announced the release of additional allowances across the board for all the employees of the judiciary.

And again, who would have thought we'd see another hot jude, this time, she's more of a chinese meztiza... and younger! Seems like she belongs to our age bracket... if ever i make my first appearance in the MeTC, and she happens to be the judge, I'd probably stutter, lose my composure and say something slightly inappropriate inside the court room hehehe.

XIII

Sometimes I get moved by compassion seeing most people coming to our office. One lady came all the way from the Quezon province just to have an adverse decision of the NLRC appealed. But it plainly cannot be appealed since the period to file an appeal has prescribed. She doesn’t have any place to stay in here in Manila, she has children studying, she lived in the area in Quezon province affected by the landslide. Her husband died 7 years ago and allegedly according to her, was insured by the company, but the insurance money was received by the recruitment agency. The labor arbiter ruled in her favor, but the NLRC reversed. Had the labor arbiter’s ruling been sustained, she receives about 300,000 pesos, but the NLRC ruled to the contrary, but out of compassion, granted her 10,000 bucks. Sad to say, there’s no more remedy (unless extrinsic fraud be invoke and a motion for new trial or relief from judgment be moved) because she didn’t return to manila a month earlier after receiving the copy of the adverse decision.

There I see the world of the descamisados, the unlearned, fighting for their rights, and even though no big money is involved, just want to vindicate themselves. Some just fight for their dignity, though they don’t have anything else. I haven’t encountered any major civil case (which usually involves property or large money), all that they fight for are their rights, names, personal status… ‘cause most of them have nothing else to themselves.

At any rate, some clients are just plainly absurd. Obnoxious and tell-all, tall-tale story tellers of a simple money claim which became as confusing as a Mexican Telenovela.

XII

Something worth it to blog (and brag) about.

Today, me, Ernest and Rem went ‘court-hopping’ in the morning, and got into the RTC Branch where this hot judge is presiding. Damn! I love her already! Too bad she’s married. She’s also from UST Law and a sorority girl. She’s young, more or less 30 or 35 years old. A former MTC judge in Manila. A certified hottie. Think of porcelain complexion, luscious lips ala Angelina Jolie, wide eyes, straight brown-black hair and somewhat imperfectly aquiline nose. You need not disrobe her just to figure out that she’s got something brewing underneath. (and by disrobe, I mean, not wearing the black judge’s robe)

Since I am proscribed by the Rules of Court and of Legal Ethics from divulging information regarding cases pending before the courts, I couldn’t mention names or certain facts. But I can certainly describe them…

We watched the pre-trial conference against a public figure, (a suit for libel) a lady, a former government official and administration ally, now a staunch opposition. (last clue: highlights). The private prosecutor and the defense are high profile lawyers, the kind you see on TV. The private complainant is member of the House. One of the defense lawyers was called ‘out of order’ by the judge, as she somehow malignantly and arrogantly made manifestations and motions, to which judge hot momma frowned upon and smirked with disgust, but with professionalism.

The thing I like about Quezon City Hall of Justice is that a lot of prominent figures and the different faces of society are there, either as complainants, witnesses or defendants… members of the elite, high profile lawyers, government officials, the old money, the bourgeoisies, the new money, the poor, hardened criminals, accused waiting to prove their innocence, the ignoramuses, the injured, the guilty, the innocent, the victim, the hapless, the winner, the loser. Everyday you literally rub elbows with these people. Those who come to our office usually come from the lower segment of society, and somehow, compassion moves you to do your best to serve these people.

Also in there, I learn a lot of things about technique, and practically speaking… whatever you learn in school, you’ll really apply it, except that you must be witty and clever at times, especially when the given situation has no outright remedy. Like the present case that I’m handling, which I never read anything about in the SCRA or the PhilRep or the OG’s.

XI

I survived day 1.

Not physically exciting, but mentally disturbing. What the heck, I didn't learn how to make certain pleadings and motions... but just sitting around the computer and browsing through, you'd learn already. Plus, most lawyers are great. They're not uptight nor do they have stiff upper lips.

And apparently, I got the chairmanship position for the Remedial Law Committee of Acads. Whew! Scary as hell!

I got to play badminton last night with Jonelyn, Norence and Sunny at Smash. Nice way to cap my first day.

And another thing... masarap ang dinurog na tapa ng tapsilog ng Rodick's sa UP!!! yum! yum!

X

Okay, time to get serious. My internship starts tomorrow at the Public Attorney’s Office in Quezon City. I’m officially enslaving myself to the whims and caprices of government lawyers. But hey, they’re not that bad (unlike most private practitioners) My short-lived vacation shall not be obliviated by the work without pay system. Perhaps maybe, I’d spend the coming weekend with my college berks. To be definite, I’d be changing my time frame and internal clock to suit the 8 to 5pm working hours, which would probably result to less badminton, less drinking, less poker nights, less everything.

Also, tomorrow the academics committee would conduct its first meeting. And I’m thinking of backing out. The only reason why I wanted to join it (and perhaps get a chairmanship position in taxation, political law or remedial law committees) is for future credentials. Furthermore, I’ve promised Samantha to do it. Well, good karma begets good karma.

xxx xxx xxx

Things will never be the same. We haven’t talked nor texted each other for more than a week. I do not miss you. So far, I’m glad I broke our bond. No more annoying missed calls. No more ambiguous statements. No more of the mushy things. I do not need you to act as my best friend. I have a plenitude of them, and someone already holds the title ‘Best’. I do not need your confidentiality. I do not need your honesty. I do not need your friendship. As far as I’m concern, we’re just ‘nominal friends’ now… Colleagues… Temporary allegiances…

No more falling back and coming forward again. If ever you look into my eyes and try to capture my soul once again, I will not look back. All you will see is void. You said we are completely different people. Yes we are, and always will be. But back then, we compliment each other so well. Now, we contradict each other.

Don’t expect a guy to be there for you for all eternity… since this is the premise:

There’s nothing platonic between a man and a woman.

You had it coming.

Your loss, not mine.

If ever you find yourself out of the labyrinth of your emotional confusion; you won’t find me there waiting for you at the threshold.

I gave my soul to the one I’ve lost before, and serendipity found for me once again. And between the two of us, nothing is indeed platonic…

IX

Last week’s events:

1. Puerto Galera trip
2. Internship Hunting at Public Attorney’s Office, Quezon City
3. Getting a fever.
4. Learning Poker.
5. Proving that gambling is bad. Especially if you lose all your winnings, and not even getting through ‘breakeven.’
6. Three hours of sleep thereafter, and over fatigue.

Still not in the mood to blabber. Yadah-yadah-yadah.