SC to honor Narvasa in special program today

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) will render full honors to the late chief justice Andres Narvasa in a special commemoration program today.

SC spokesman Theodore Te confirmed yesterday that the cremated remains of Narvasa would be brought to the high court at 9 a.m. today from the wake at Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish in Quezon City.

“A short program will be held at 12 noon. A battalion of Philippine National Police uniformed personnel will be on hand to render honors,” Te added.

Incumbent and retired magistrates of the high court are expected to attend the program.

The remains of Narvasa, who passed away last Oct. 31 due to infection caused by pneumonia, will stay in the SC until 2 p.m.

Te advised motorists to “expect heavy volume of traffic and partial closure of Padre Faura Street (from UP Manila to DOJ) at 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.”

Dubbed as the “Gray Dean” by the media for his signature salt-and-pepper crew cut, the 84-year-old legal luminary held the distinction of being the only chief justice in the post-EDSA Revolution era to administer the oath of two elected presidents: Fidel V. Ramos in 1992 and Joseph Estrada in 1998.

He was also the general counsel of the historic Agrava fact-finding commission that was tasked with the investigation of the killing of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. on Aug. 21, 1983.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo earlier called on the government to issue a special citation for Narvasa for his crucial role in exposing the attempt of the Marcos regime to cover up the assassination of Aquino.

As the general counsel of the five-man commission that probed the Aquino assassination, Narvasa laid down and pursued the legal theory and strategy that the murder was a military conspiracy, Castelo said in a statement.

The SC, for its part, has recognized Narvasa for his “legacy in judicial reform and excellence.”

“As associate justice, he penned decisions with clarity and substance.  As chief justice, he led the Court by example, displaying integrity and wisdom, and serving as a model for justices and judges to emulate,” acting Chief Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in a statement.

The SC also said Narvasa served as an “agent of change” in the high court by “ensuring speedy justice for litigants by instituting reforms in court procedures and constantly evaluating the court machinery to see how it could be improved.”