Filipino academics say CJ undeserving of doctorate award

comments     Yap Mun Ching     Published     Updated

A Philippines college's decision to confer an honorary doctorate on Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah evoked protest from several Filipino academicians due to his handling of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against his corruption conviction recently.

A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today said the San Beda College in Manila will award Dzaiddin the Doctor of Laws degree ( honoris causa ) tomorrow.

However, the daily added the president of the country's Far Eastern University Edilberto de Jesus and former president of the University of Philippines Jose Abueva issued a "statement of deep concern" over the matter.

"Dzaiddin presides over a judiciary denounced by Malaysian human rights advocates for its handling of the trials of Anwar," the academicians were quoted as saying.

The Inquirer also reported the academicians as saying that by giving Dzaiddin an "undeserved" award, the San Beda College would diminish the tribute for its own alumni.

The chief justice, who is currently in the Philippines for a three-day visit, is also the elected president of the Asean Law Association (ALA) since 1997.

'Travesty of justice'

Dzaiddin was one of the three-member Federal Court panel which unanimously dismissed Anwar's final appeal on July 10 against his conviction and six-year sentencing for tampering with police investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct .

Following the decision, the Bar Council, human rights organisations and several foreign governments questioned the impartiality of the judges.

In an immediate response, Anwar had described the verdict as a "travesty of justice".

"Today's judgment is a self-indictment by the highest court of the nation. The judges have shamelessly flogged themselves in full view of the entire world. Indeed, this appeal has been a question not so much of the law as of moral courage," he said.

The once heir-apparent of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was sacked in 1998 and is currently undergoing a 15-year jail term for corruption and sodomy.

Anwar claims to be a victim of a high-level political conspiracy, a charge which the government has denied.

The other two judges who heard the appeal were Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim and Federal Court judge Haidar Mohd Noor.



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