Reminder to justices and Filipinos: 'Not everybody has the chance...'

GOTCHA

- JARIUS BONDOC

"It is an honor to die for one's country. Not everybody has that chance."

Moments after saying that, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos was executed by Japanese invaders. He is the greatest Filipino martyr next only to Rizal, President Diosdado Macapagal exalted two decades later.

August, History Month, is timely to recall the last days of Abad Santos, 1886-1942. Opportune too, as citizens flay present Supreme Court justices for immunizing themselves from accountability.

Japanese invaders captured Abad Santos on April 11, 1942 in Barili, Cebu. He was motoring to Toledo with eldest son Jose Jr., nicknamed Pepito, Colonel Benito Valeriano and two enlisted men.

He introduced himself as the chief justice. His party was aboard the presidential automobile which President Manuel Quezon assigned to him before departing for Australia.

Abad Santos had declined to join Quezon's government-in-exile. Quezon thus appointed him "Acting President and Acting Commander-in-Chief of Unoccupied Areas." Also, Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Finance and Commerce.

Bataan had fallen two days prior, April 9. Abad Santos was rushing to rejoin Col. Manuel Roxas in Negros. Instead he was taken to Cebu City, where his captors found out he was the head of government.