Retired Justice Manuel Pamaran wore different hats in giving his self-less service to the Philippines.
First, he served as volunteer serviceman in World War II, joining the ROTC Hunters Guerilla Group against the wishes of his parents. He acted as an intelligence courier and materiel gatherer, sourcing for firearms and ammunition in the fields of battle in the mountains of Cavite and surrounding areas.
For his wartime contributions, he received the US Congressional Gold Medal award in 2018.
After the war, Pamaran served in the judiciary, getting the monicker "Hanging Judge" for sentencing to death the likes of "Waway" and Baby China" during his time as Manila Judge.
A Bachelor of Laws graduate at Manuel L. Quezon University who earned a Master of Law degree from Far Eastern University, Pamaran was appointed to the judiciary as Assistant Fiscal of Manila in 1965, thereafter becoming Court of First Instance Judge, and later given the chairmanship of the Supreme Court Sub-committee on Evidence, tasked with reviewing and revising the 1964 Rules of Court. In 1978, he was appointed Presiding Judge of the newly-formed Sandiganbayan.
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On Wednesday, Justice Pamaran took a bow as PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and members of San Miguel Beermen and Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters led the the Big Dome crowd in giving him a deserved salute at halftime of their PBA Governors' Cup game.
To this day, Pamaran continues to serve his brothers in arms as president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines.
"I'm still in actual practice today, I have a law office," he said. "I'm also president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, and we are taking care of the welfare of the veterans because without the veterans, this country will not exist."
As for his message to the Filipinos youth, Pamaran said: "They are the hope of the Fatherland tomorrow; What will be of our country tomorrow will depend upon how they will perform."(OL)
