Duterte's SolGen Calida the other day challenged De Lima:
(1) "...I challenge her to reveal her grade in criminal law during the Bar exam."
(2) "If her grade is higher than mine, I will resign as Solicitor General. But if my grade is higher than hers, she should resign as Senator of the Philippines."
Sometimes, out of sheer irritation, I am tempted to violate my policy of humility and slap the face of SolGen Calida with my general weighted average of 90.95% in the 1984 bar exam and an almost perfect grade of 98% in criminal law in that bar exam. (The 1984 bar exam was the first time in PH history where no UP Law bar examinee landed in the top ten, including Chief Justice Sereno, who took the bar exam that year [as the UP Law class valedictorian]).
Calida should know the virtues of silence and humility in public service. He occupies an honorable role in the legal system as the counsel for the State and as the tribune of the people. He should act with modesty and professionalism.
It is sad to note that Duterte has infected his Cabinet with the virus of arrogance, pride and narcissism.
It is wrong for Calida (and many Filipinos, in general) to use a public official's bar exams grade to measure his competence and integrity.
(Marcos was was the 1939 bar topnotcher. Fifty years later [1989] he died in shame for his brutality, tyranny and corruption).
It is wrong for any lawyer to brag about his law school honors and grades and his bar exams grade to impress people.
For a lawyer, the ethical guide is whether or not he is doing his moral and professional duty with devotion "to do justice one case at a time", regardless of the monetary consideration and the sacrifices.
When a lawyer appears in court to defend an accused, the judge does not ask him his bar exams grade. It is irrelevant to a trial lawyer's professionalism and competence. A lawyer does not need to be a bar topnotcher to contribute to the promotion of the the rule of law and the administration of justice.
