One martyr to remember

February 19 marked the birthday of former Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, one of the great men in Philippine history.

In the words of Daniel Webster, “Justice is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together. Wherever her temple stands, and so long as it is duly honored, there is a foundation for social security, general happiness, and the improvement and progress of our race. And whoever labors on this edifice with usefulness and distinction, whoever clears its foundations, strengthens its pillars, adorns its entablatures, or contributes to raise its august dome still higher in the skies, connects himself, in the name, and fame, and character, with that which is and must be as durable as the frame of human society.” Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos is one such man who labored to build a Philippines founded on the twin concepts of justice and equality.

The life of the 5th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Jose Abad Santos y Basco is worth being taught as a model to students, lawyers and current justices alike. There are a few men who can say that they have fully dedicated their lives to justice. There are fewer still who can say that they have died for it. We do not know of another Supreme Court in the world that produced a martyr like him.

When the Philippine government went into exile during the Japanese Occupation, Chief Justice Abad Santos was given a choice to flee or stay. He chose to stay and continue his work and the fight on behalf of the Filipinos. Upon leaving, President Quezon empowered him as his delegate to act on his behalf. Jose Abad Santos was captured by the Japanese and summarily executed May 2, 1942 for his refusing to swear allegiance to the Japanese and place the Philippines within their “Sphere of Prosperity”; he was executed for refusing to collaborate with the enemy. 

Before he died, Abad Santos had the opportunity to speak to his son Jose Jr. Over 30 years before Senator Ninoy Aquino would say that “The Filipino is worth dying for.”, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos would tell his son:”It is an honor to die for one’s country. Not everyone has that chance.”

He entered law to help Filipinos; he believed in the importance of justice and respecting the laws of the land. Law, as they say, is the great equalizer. And in a land which is governed by laws, the Supreme Court should stand as our ultimate symbol of justice. With men like Justice Abad Santos, it did. In the end, he stood against collaboration - and the corruption that went with it.

February is the month of martyrs and patriots - from Luis Rodriguez Varela to Gom-Bur-Za to Jose Rizal; From the Filipinos who fought two foreign occupations (American and Japanese) to the whole of the Filipino people during EDSA I. To that list Justice Jose Abad Santos demands inclusion. He should be numbered among the greatest of our historical patriots, heroes and martyrs. They have all left a legacy of nationalism that we should all honor, respect and defend. They are legacies which we should not betray. Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos has left us with another legacy as well: Justice and the sanctity of the law are worth defending at all costs. There can be no rule of freedom, without rule of law.