Wellness leave?

It’s good that the spokespersons of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno have issued a public apology and explanation over their “wellness leave” statement, which no one really understood – myself included. I’ve been a journalist and columnist half of my life and this is the first time I have ever heard of “wellness leave.” She should have just been clear that she was taking her two-week annual vacation leave or indefinite leave of absence which working people are entitled to every year.

I supposed the confusion around her statement is what caused the anger from the other Supreme Court justices who weren’t sure if Sereno was going on leave or resigning as they had hoped. The pressure has been mounting in the Supreme Court and for the first time ever, the other justices have leaned heavily on the Chief Justice to go on leave as a precursor for resigning her post. A move, which some have said has no legal basis.

The truth is Chief Justice Sereno has gone on leave to prepare herself and her legal team for her defense against a potential impeachment complaint filed against her in the House. A lot of time has passed since the complaint was filed five months ago and, as mentioned, the pressure is mounting. Perhaps they can foresee that the impeachment may finally be pushing through and they are preparing for court.

The path of least resistance would be for Sereno to resign to save on the circus that is sure to follow (and which we have seen many times in the past). She certainly has her back against the wall and many have banded together to try to edge her out. Her resolve is still strong though and she has made it quite clear that her leave does not mean that she is resigning or that she will resign. She has resolved to face the impeachment case in court and fight back.

One can see where she is coming from. The complaint filed against her is thin at best and should the raps stick, they are not quite impeachable offenses such as “forcible violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.” Currently the matters on the table include Sereno’s appointment of an official of the Philippine Judicial Academy and her failure to submit her Statement of Assets and Liabilities covering her time before her court appointment. Again, unsure about the strength of these offenses – which could be why the House hearings have been going on for so long.

At the end of the day it feels like another long drawn out drama that is distracting Congress from focusing on more pressing and important matters for the country. If they are going to impeach Sereno then they should just move ahead and get it done. Stop the dilly-dallying and get the process moving. At least this way, something is happening one way or another and we are not left in the lurch. Both Congress and the Supreme Court should be focused on more important matters.

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It’s so sad that Boracay is in the news so much these days and for all the wrong reasons. I remember in years past the stunning island paradise was in the news because it was being praised as a must-see tourist destination with pristine beaches and beautiful blue water. These days, Boracay is in the news as the “cesspool of the country.” It’s terrible that we had to let things get this bad before finally doing something.

I am glad that President Duterte is taking a stand on this matter and giving the DENR and the local government a deadline for implementing sustainable waste management for the island and finding ways to prevent it from collapsing. Hopefully these measures are able to give Boracay a much-needed second lease on life.

I believe that it’s critical mass for Boracay and so many tourists just kept pouring in with new hotels sprouting up all in the same areas with no real reliable and sustainable sewage and waste management protocols in place. Time took its toll and soon the island just could not take the weight of all the people and their waste and litter and pollution and just began dying slowly. Those of us who have seen Boracay in its heyday saw all the signs but the “proverbial party” just kept going and now the bill has come due.

The 60-day total closure of the island is a move I am 100% behind. Hopefully this will kick start the six-month rehabilitation program and we can start to bring the island back to life. I understand what this closure means for businesses that will not be able to earn and accept tourist and guests, however they should see it as an investment in the future.  A little suffering now can extend their interests in the island for more years to come and tourism will increase again once Boracay finds a way to sustain itself and be more environmentally friendly.

What’s more, this closure and this “wake up call” should not be for the local government and businesses of Boracay alone but for all of us who love the white sandy beaches and warm waters of the island. Tourists who pollute and don’t clean up after themselves are just as much to blame for the state of Boracay as everyone else. One only need to go out on a weekend party night to see all the drunken partygoers polluting the beach, clogging what drainage exists, and not caring at all. It’s time we implement harsher laws against littering in the island and enforce them.

We all need to take a bit of the responsibility when it comes to Boracay. Hopefully this serves as a warning to other popular burgeoning tourist destinations in the Philippines as well like Palawan, Bohol, La Union, and Siargao among others. Growth and tourism are great but there is a responsibility that comes along with that growth. Let’s take care of our country before it’s too late to go back. Hopefully it’s not too late for Boracay.