Dissenters in SC plagiarism ruling: Sanctions undermine court’s honesty By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/22/2010

Dissenters in SC plagiarism ruling: Sanctions undermine court’s honesty

By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/22/2010

Dissenting magistrates said the Supreme Court (SC) is doing a great disservice to its cause in covering up what was clearly a case of plagiarism in its decision to turn down a suit filed by Filipino women who were used as sex slaves during the Japanese occupation.

Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno said the SC ruling ordering contempt raps for the UP College of Law professors undermines honesty in learned discourse by claiming no wrong had been committed.
“What is so grievous about this whole contempt proceeding is that it comes in the wake of the gross injury that the Court has inflicted upon the virtue of honesty in learned discourses by labeling plagiarism as not plagiarism in the related case involving one of its members.

“With all due respect to my colleagues, it is not the place of the Court to seek revenge against those who, in their wish to see reform in the judiciary, have the courage to say what is wrong with it. The Court finds its legitimacy in demonstrating its moral vein case after case, not in flaunting its judicial brawn. There is nothing to be gained for the administration of justice in not letting his one instance pass just because feelings have been hurt and the urge to retaliate must be satisfied.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101022nat1.html