Black and White Movement: Goodbye, Miriam Defensor-Santiago

MANILA, Philippines—Giving back what it received, the Black and White Movement (BWM) on Friday said it joined in celebrating with the rest of the nation the election of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago as a judge in the International Criminal Court.

“Of course, we have different reasons for celebrating. We think the ICC will be a new arena where the good senator can showcase her mastery of the law and her eloquence, peculiarities, affectations and all. It can only be good for the country,” the group said in a statement.

“The Black and White Movement wishes her Godspeed and goodbye!” it added.

The left-handed compliment was issued after Santiago blasted the group and one of its conveners, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, during the latter’s confirmation hearing before the Commission of Appointments on Wednesday.

Santiago had accused BWM members of acting out of “pure human arrogance” for speaking against public officials according to their moral stance.

“Who understands the mind of God? Who has a direct line to God? Does God say you are right and everyone else is wrong? I would like to see the appointment papers signed by God to prove they were given powers of attorney (to decide on these matters),” Santiago told the group.

‘Did God speak to you?’

“You know what is good and evil because God says so? Oh, yeah? Did God speak to you, members of the Black and White Movement?” Santiago asked during the hearing.

The group disputed the accusation of having a “direct line to God” but was quick to add that “yes, they speak to God through prayers.”

“But so far, He has not appeared to us as He did to Moses to give us instructions or special powers of attorney as the good senator insinuated,” it said.

The group reaffirmed its support for Soliman, adding that it was proud that some of its members now served in the Aquino administration.

“It seems that the good senator mistakes our passion and zeal for arrogance,” BWM said. “Of course, we consider her an expert on the subject. She gives new meaning to the words, ‘puffed up.’”

It added, “Clearly, she deems the unelected and the unlettered in the law to be lesser mortals.”

The BWM was launched in 2005 and called for the ouster of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The group also asked Chief Justice Renato Corona last week to inhibit himself from cases before the Supreme Court which involved Arroyo, saying Corona served as chief of staff and spokesperson when Arroyo was vice president and as presidential chief of staff, presidential spokesperson and acting executive secretary during her administration.

‘What we have is conscience’

The group said that despite its calls for or against any political action, it never claimed to represent the people.

“We have not been elected, unlike her (Santiago). Neither have we projected ourselves as scholars of the law or philosophy.  But what we have is our conscience… to guide us in discerning good from evil, right from wrong,” it said.

“We have never imposed our sense of right or wrong upon others. We do fight for what we think is right, and we expose wrongdoing whenever we see it,” it added.

BWM said it was aware that others might not agree with their positions and were open to different opinions.

“We respect their right to express their opinions, just as we expect them to respect ours. Such are the ways of democracy,” it said.