“Judge, How About in 2013?â€
By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post
Early in life Judge Suceso Araoarao Arcamo (SAA) knew that existence is never a bed of roses. He had to work hard, scrimp, and persevere through his elementary and secondary school years, labored harder while taking up Bachelor of Laws at the University of San Carlos (earning his keeps courtesy of an aunt and an elder brother), and took and passed the Bar, all these despite the odds resulting from financial needs.
Today, Judge Arcamo can look back with his head held high for he prospered through his own sweat. It is a laurel well-earned, and a life worth-living. His odyssey took him to Butuan City, Surigao del Sur and Siquijor. Now as Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 47, Tagbilaran City he takes life in strides, knowing so fondly well that sometimes the runner stumbles.
This interview took place at the City Hall during the 43rd Charter Day Celebration of Tagbilaran City, after a sumptuous lunch shared by hundreds of people. No more the gawking non-entity that he was several years ago, he is now an imposing albeit non-arrogant figure, that endears him to all. Remnants of the rural ways are still there, but super-imposed by an urban air of one who has known how to succeed in life.
LMP: What is your present designation?
SAA: I’ am now the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 47, at the same time designated at the Election and Environmental Court. Now, I am Vice Executive Judge of all the Judges in Tagbilaran City, as well as, the Municipal Circuit of Judges within the territorial jurisdiction of Tagbilaran.
LMP: It is been a hard and long climb before your designation as a Judge. For some people it is unprecedented. What is this thing in you that propels you to be an achiever?
SAA: It’s maybe because of my family background. We’re not born on a silver platter. My father was just a mere public school teacher and my mother was a plain housewife. So, I was really financially hard-up during my studies; that’s why I endeavored to study hard to become a Lawyer; and ultimately now, as a Regional Trial Court Judge, from being a Fiscal for about 10 years.
LMP: It follows that when it comes to making a place in the sun being poor is never a reason to be down. In your case it has become an inspiration. Now, that you have attained your goals, have this perspective changed?
SAA: No, it still remains, I’ m still down-to-earth and a humble guy. As a matter of fact, every weekend, we go home to Panglao and meet my relatives there, as if I’ m not a Residing Judge. I consider myself as the same as before… an ordinary guy.
LMP: So, you believe that looking back is really something that makes you a real man, that you don’t forget your roots?
SAA: Yes, because there is a saying that “Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay walang patutunguhan†so, I never consider myself, my status as a presiding judge, to be superior to the others.
LMP: We understand that you had a lot of hardships along the way before you passed the Bar.
SAA: I finished my College of Law course at the University of San Carlos. It does not mean that just because I was able to study in Cebu, we were well-off. On the contrary I was a working student in the house of my aunt in Cebu City. Early in the morning I was to polish the floors and do errands.
LMP: Would you like to consider yourself a self-made man?
SAA: I consider myself a self-made man because through hard work I was able to climb and achieve what I wanted in life.
LMP: Basically, you are a Boholano, during your growing up years, especially the formative years and up to now, what have you noticed about Bohol and Tagbilaran? Has there been a lot of changes?
SAA: Of course, there are lots of changes. Before, when I was still a student of Holy Name University, during my high school days, there was no night life. We were just contented playing, had a little drink during our college days. Unlike now there are big stores and malls, etc.
LMP: Would you consider that as a part of progress?
SAA: Yes, that is part of progress, it’s part of the modern life.
LMP: On the Economic side, what kind of changes have you observed throughout these years especially that you were assigned one time in Siquijor?
SAA: Tagbilaran City in particular and Bohol in general, are very progressive city and province, as of now compared to my student days, I have been in Bohol since 1986 after the EDSA revolution. After becoming a lawyer, I was working in Mindanao.
LMP: What part in Mindanao?
SAA: In Surigao as a City Legal Officer. During the 1980 election, I was elected as Counselor.
LMP: What particular municipality?
SAA: Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. Then after that I transferred to Davao City because I was offered a good paying job by my classmate in San Carlos. After two years, I was hired by the City Mayor of Butuan as his City Legal Officer then City Administrator when EDSA took over.
LMP: And during these assignments it is expected that you have learned a lot?
SAA: Of course, when I came back to Bohol, I found out that Bohol is my place to stay.
LMP: What was your first assignment?
SAA: As an aftermath of the EDSA revolution, my boss the City Mayor of Butuan, was also replaced. When the EDSA Revolt took place, Atty. Sylvestre Bello III became an Under Secretary of Justice, so I resigned as a City Legal Officer. Then luckily through my friend I was transferred to Bohol as Third Assistant City Fiscal of Tagbilaran City, I took my oath as Fiscal before the OIC Mayor of Tagbilaran, Mayor Dan Neri Lim.
LMP: How long ago was that? How long did you stay as a fiscal?
SAA: From October 1986 to August 1996, ten years.
LMP: And then you became a Judge after that.
SAA: I assumed office on August 20, 1996 as Presiding Judge in the Regional Trial Court Branch 46 in Larena Siquijor.
LMP: How long did you stay there?
SAA: For 9 years. I was transferred to Bohol last July 2005.
LMP: Was it a promotion?
SAA: No, it was a lateral transfer after the demise of the Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 47.
LMP: What’s the difference as far as stress and; obstacles are concerned between a Fiscal and a Judge?
SAA: As an Assistant City Fiscal, there was only little stress because all you had to do was to prosecute the case in court then leave everything to the Judge to decide. All you have to do was to present evidence and present witnesses. So, the job of an Assistant City Fiscal was less stressful as compared to the Judge. The Judge is the one who presides and hears the case; then decides the case based on the merits. The hardest part is to prepare a decision. All decisions are always supported with strong evidence; if they don’t agree with my decision then they have the right to appeal to the higher court.
LMP: What can you say about public governance?
SAA: Personally, I’m not in a consonance with the system of governance which they have now. There are traditional politicians who want to perpetuate themselves in power and going to the extent of establishing a dynasty.
LMP: So, you are anti-dynasty?
SAA: Of course.
LMP: But then even if you are, there are still lots of people, the same family running for offices because they’ve got a lot of money and influence. They still win. What can we do about it?
SAA: That is the weakness and problem of our electoral process. It is discouraging to enter into politics, even if you are highly qualified but you have no resources, especially the funds. You will lose to a mere high school or elementary graduate who is loaded with money.
LMP: Is there a way to change this system?
SAA: Well it is really hard because it is already the culture of our people. Like for an example the politics in Panglao. I’ m a native of Panglao. If you have no money, no funds, you will not win. You lose against an opponent who has not even finished high school.
LMP: What is heard from the media is, there are a lot of clamor especially in Panglao for a change of administration, and in fact many people have been mentioning your name. How do you react to that situation?
SAA: Well, even now that I’ m an RTC Judge I still remain a humble and friendly person. In short I have the character of a politician, but the sad thing is that, I cannot sacrifice my position as an RTC Judge to enter politics in Panglao.
LMP: Can you not do it as a sacrifice? Everybody understands that it’s not a lucrative job, but for the sake of the welfare of the community, can you not do a some good Samaritan act, sacrificing a little even for a short duration of time, not forever?
SAA: Could be in some distant future… not now.
LMP: What have you noticed about Tagbilaran as a progressive city?
SAA: Tagbilaran City, is really an envy to other cities. It is excellent, there’s the saying “Res Epsa Loquitor†“the thing speaks for itselfâ€. If you go around Tagbilaran City, you will see big establishments sprouting throughout the City; for example is the City Square. For 14 years it was idle. Now, it is a modern and spanking shopping mall. Tagbilaran might be small in area but it is big in terms o business establishments, we have 3 shopping malls, Plaza Marcela, ICM, BQ, not to mention the other business establishments all over the city.
LMP: So you believe that Tagbilaran has a very bright future?
SAA: Yes. I believe that Tagbilaran is in good hands.
LMP: When you say in good hands meaning to say, it is well governed?
SAA: Yes.
LMP: And the present governance is something that is acceptable to the people?
SAA: Yes, as what we heard all over the radio.
LMP: How about the critics of the Mayor? Even if how good you are, you cannot please them all.
SAA: Of course, critics will come, as long as it is for the sake of the welfare of the Tagbilaranon not just for their own.
LMP: But you cannot help it, critics also have their own self-interest, particularly in politics, because moves could be politically motivated. How can you get rid of that?
SAA: Criticisms are good so long as it is constructive, you cannot really get rid of it, otherwise the people would just be considered as robots.
LMP: Is it possible to get rid of it?
SAA: It can be minimized or lessen but not altogether removed.
LMP: Today is the 43rd Charter Day of Tagbilaran City, what can you see about the future of Tagbilaran?
SAA: Tagbilaran has a good and bright future as a City, especially in terms of the quality of life of the residents. As long as Tagbilaran is administered by a person who has the interest of the poor, then Tagbilaran will grow.
LMP: What do you expect to become to Tagbilaran 10 years from now?
SAA: 10 years from now, I believe Tagbilaran is not anymore a component city but a highly urbanized city in terms of resources, population and progress.
LMP: As long as the kind of governance goes on?
SAA: I hope so, that the present administration will be equaled in the future. Everybody can be a good administrator so long as he focuses on the interest of the people.
In Panglao where Judge Arcamo is from, the grapevine is rife with a rumor that he has been approached by well-meaning individuals enticing him to run for the position of Municipal Mayor. He has not denied the rumor, now has he watered-down the speculation of many Panglaoanon that he is the individual who could change the political climate of the town. As everybody knows, the situation of the island Municipality leaves much to be desired, with the tag-of-war that has left the population totally exasperated.
Although Judge Arcamo has made it clear that joining the political frenzy now is like striking a hammer into his own head, he has made it understood that he may change his stand in the not so distant future. For instance, in 2013, when he may avail of early retirement, when he would have the time to concentrate on a political career for the good of his town-folks.
But as of now, what people have speculated is a tall order. That time will come, and during that time he would be ready.
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