the politics of politics

The Aquino administration  defied norms and traditions when it appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno  as the new Chief Justice. First, the appointee is the first female to hold the post second, the President overlooked the tradition of seniority rights.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; 63, by seniority rule, should have been the next Chief Justice but the opportunity was quite elusive because of partisan; Carpio is a Gloria Arroyo-appointee.

Meanwhile, Sereno; 52, has recently voted for the distribution of the Luisita land to its farmer beneficiaries. Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac is owned by the Cojuancos, the President's family.

Although Sereno voted for the land distribution, she was one of the minorities who said that the Cojuancos should receive the higher land price based on the 2006 land value rather than the 1989 amount, which is of lower value.

In addition, the new CJ voted against Gloria Arroyo's wish to seek international medical treatment last 2011.

Although appointments are based on the discretion of the president, by unwritten rule, and respect for the one who has the most solid experience, I believe that the most senior of the aspirants should be appointed of the post, irregardless of different political affiliations.

Sereno's appointment is tinted with malice, doubts, and apprehensions that the first woman chief justice will be a political puppet. On one hand, Aquino seemed politically-indebted with Sereno. Well, they are politically indebted with each other.

Our political system has always been ruled by strong partisans and political-debts and ambitions. After all paying and seeking utang na loob at palakasan, have always been one of our general characters as Filipinos.

Kung may backer ka, kung may konek ka, kung malakas ang padrino mo, kung may utang na loob ka at may pinagkaka-utangan ng loob, alam na!

These have always been the prevailing attributes of our politics, the politics of politics.

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Sereno's term will (theoretically) end by 2030, 18 years from now.

Seventy-years-old is the retiring age of Chief Justices, hence, since Sereno is now 52 she has 18 years to spare unless she will resign or be impeached.

The hashtag #CJpaSiSereno trended in Twitter as netizens posted hilarious and ingenious thoughts like, #CJpaSiSereno may asawa na si P-Noy.