A sea of protesters estimated to be a crowd of 15,000 attended Mass service at the Redemptorist Church last night in support of Davide. But the overwhelming attendance may have only been the height of heated emotions sparked during the regular provincial board sessions yesterday afternoon.
Provincial board member Victor Maambong had proposed a resolution to condemn Rep. Joseph Ace Durano and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz for having been among the signatories of the impeachment.
But when the resolution was submitted for discussion, Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña also the session’s presiding officer declared a recess and turned over the gavel to provincial board member Joven Mondigo. Simultaneously, fifth district board members Josefina Patricia Asirit and Rosemarie Durano joined Osmeña and walked out.
Osmeña is closely associated with the Duranos and the Duranos and Asirits are relatives. The resolution was eventually passed but its draft was toned down. Rev. Carmelo Diola, who celebrated yesterday’s evening Mass may have known the afternoon’s walkout.
Openly showing their indignation at the impeachment, of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., magistrates, lawyers, bar associations, businessmen, employees, barangay captains, and even cargo handlers rallied to block the impending Senate trial.
The Palace of Justice reverberated with chants like "impeachment ibasura," from court employees, judges and lawyers who were either dressed in black or wore black armbands as expressions of indignation and protest.
Judges came up with a manifesto extolling Davide’s "integrity and morality that has remained unsullied throughout his years of public service" even as indignant protesters yesterday also lambasted politicians who have used the court to "act in behalf of vested interests of their patron." — Freeman