Independence Day

MANILA, Philippines – Amid mounting calls for him to run for president in 2010, Chief Justice Reynato Puno is praying that he be “not led into temptation” but rues about why there is no reason to celebrate Independence Day.

“Lead me not into temptation,” Chief Justice Reynato Puno said when asked about his political plans, citing a line from the Lord’s Prayer.

“If I enter politics, certainly, I will have no option but to get out of the Court. But I have previously answered that question,” said Puno who led the Independence Day rites at the Monumento Shrine in Caloocan City Friday.

Puno said he saw no reason why he should change his position against running for the highest post in the land but at the same time lamented that Friday’s celebration of Independence Day was marred by the prevailing lawlessness and corruption that could destroy the country.

“Wala po tayong tunay na katwiran na magdiwang ng ating kalayaan kung ganito ang kalagayan ng ating inang bayan [We have no reason to celebrate our freedom if this is the situation in our country],” Puno said.

“A country that does not follow laws, a country whose morality is in tatters because of corruption, a country that is like a volcano that is on the brink of an explosion,” said Puno in Filipino.

Puno said the country should do something to stop the “social volcano” from erupting by fighting corruption and smear campaigns and stop throwing uncouth words at each other.

He also reiterated that the current structure of our society was not made for a successful democracy because the few elites were in control of the country, the middle class was weak and there was a “sea of poor people.”

He said the perfect structure should be “a society where the elite is not that active, a society wherein you have a strong middle class and society where the majority of the people will not belong to the poor classes.”

The Chief Justice enjoys a 34 percent approval rating in the May Pulse Asia Survey. He has been called as the most credible transitional leader by United Opposition (UNO) president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

But the high court believed that a transitional leadership would be most unlikely. “I do not see how it can happen within the framework of the present Constitution.”

Puno is calling on a moral force which will form guidelines in electing a transformational leader who has “interest for the sake of the greater whole” and ensure a clean and honest 2010 elections.

“Let us not wait for leaders for all of us can lead,” he said.

“Until we are unable to fix our country, we cannot say that we are truly free. Let us act. Let us heal the land. Let us heal the wound of division. Let us not be too proud, let us not insult each other, let us not throw mud at each other, that is the first step,” Puno said.