Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna: Winning the gold with his silver
Retired Supreme Court Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna served as Presidential Legal Counsel (1987-1991), Press Secretary (1989 to 1990) and Presidential Spokesman (1990-1991) during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. What an honor to have worked with President Aquino, who passed away in 2009, and Justice Azcuna at the time, as I was then the executive editor of the Presidential Press Staff.
Justice Azcuna recently launched his autobiography, Silver is My Gold (An Alchemy of My Life by the Principle of Magis), and it is the odyssey, yes, the odyssey, of someone who latched on to the true north of his moral compass from the time he understood right and wrong, to this very minute. His Catholic faith, buttressed by his Ateneo education, his mastery of the classics, his appreciation of the teachings of wise men and his choice of a life partner in Maria Asuncion “Mariasun” Aunario, helped him navigate the corridors of power and the halls of justice without tripping on moral landmines.
“Through the course of some 80 years, of life — sustained by family, friends and faith — what has come to define who I am is a loving relationship with others and, at the center, with God,” he wrote in the book’s preface.
Why is his book titled Silver is my Gold? Lest I be a spoiler, let me just say his life is testimony to the fact that yes, the second option can be the best option. That those who think they got the silver actually won the gold.
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One of my best memories of Azcuna as press secretary was during President Aquino’s visit to the city of Aachen during her state visit to Germany in 1989.
“The side trip to Aachen was mainly to meet with Filipino groups. Some of the groups were militants who ruffled the visit somewhat, but ended up engaging in a fruitful dialogue.”
Perhaps paraphrasing Voltaire, Azcuna, who speaks German fluently, told the protesters and the press who were covering the incident, “We may not agree with what you say, but we will defend to the death your right to say it.” Whew. That defused the tension.
With amusement, I read his account of the leaking roof in Blair House in Washington DC, the presidential guest house in the American capital. This was in November 1989, during President Cory’s state visit. I was part of the official delegation to assist the press secretary and the team and I were having refreshments on the first floor of Blair House when suddenly the roof started to leak. I remember so very clearly the flustered staff putting a pail underneath the embarrassing leak. Someone remarked it was leverage to ask more US official aid — imagine, to have the roof rain on a guest’s parade!
In his book, Justice Azcuna traces the source of the leak.
While President Cory was dining with top leaders of the US Congress in Blair House, he “decided to enjoy a soak in a bathtub right over them upstairs.”
“And then the floor leaks. A security guy named Bodet Honrado runs upstairs to tell me what is happening, and I quickly close the faucets and attack the towels. President Cory thoroughly enjoyed the incident and later said the Representatives smartly dismissed it by saying that at least it proves that the request for funds to repair the place is in order.”
It was a very successful state visit, nevertheless, with several pledges for investments.
But, “All the prospects we bring home for a flood of investments to our recovering country are blasted by Gringo and the coup of the colonels (in December 1989).”
The only good thing that came out of that coup, according to Azcuna, was that, having ran out of cigarettes and with nowhere to buy them as the Palace and Cory’s official Arlegui residence were under siege, he stopped smoking forever.
Looking back, Justice Azcuna says that what saved the day, aside from the US Phantom jets (a request Cory made to the White House through Vice President Dan Quayle, “who was somehow then in charge,” according to Azcuna) and the “decisive action from the air” of loyal air forces in Cavite, was the lady commander-in-chief’s “grace under pressure.”
“Cory put on sneakers and refused to leave ground zero.”
“That, according to Hemingway, is courage — grace under pressure.”
There were to be more coup attempts as we all know, none of which succeeded.
After the coup attempts, Mrs. Aquino asked Azcuna, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, “Can I run again?” The Davide Commission that looked into the root causes of the failed coups had recommended that the President make a formal declaration that she would not run again.
After asking President Cory when she took her oath (Feb 25, 1986 and again after the 1987 Constitution took effect), Azcuna told her succinctly, “You are not the one who cannot run for re-election at any time. That phrase refers to the President who took his oath on June 30 next following his election. In short, it does not apply to you Mrs. President.”
Armed with this knowledge, did Cory think of running again even for a split second?
Azcuna says the President told him then and there, “Thank you. Even then, I have decided not to run again.”
It was a choice.
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Azcuna, who placed fourth in the 1962 Bar exams, was offered the post of Supreme Court justice twice, an appointment he describes in his book as “part controversy and part destiny,” before he decided to accept the honor. On Oct. 20, 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him as the 153rd associate justice in the history of the SC.
“I took my oath before the President in Malacañang, arriving there by tricycle since traffic had stopped my car some blocks away from the entrance gate! From here on, there was no looking back and all my service, all my actions and all my life are to be raised in humble proffering to God, to country and to our people.”
Now retired, Justice Azcuna, 84, is still very sharp, can discuss with you the inevitability and pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence while talking politics and current events. A proud grandfather, he continues to work as the first and only Filipino member of the International Commission of Jurists, an international non-government organization that is dedicated to promoting the rule of law and promoting human rights on the planet.
“Doing justice is one of the best forms of service to the Lord,” he once said.
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