Hour Before Dawn: The Fall and Uncertain Rise of the Philippine Supreme Court

by Marites Dañguilan Vitug

HOUR BEFORE DAWN takes the reader to what might have been the darkest hour of the Philippine Supreme Court, when its integrity was compromised by the actions of its Chief Justice, who was subsequently impeached, and by a series of highly irregular reversals of its own rulings.

It reveals a court seemingly subject to political pressure, disbursing funds for questionable purposes, and abetting plagiarism by one of its own members, and yet placing itself beyond criticism even by the country's top lawyers and academics.

It chronicles the most open and contentious clash between the executive department and the Court. But the book is also a record of how a staunchly independent minority within the court stood up for what was right, giving hope for the rebirth and reorientation of one of the country's most vital institutions.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2012

About the author

Marites Dañguilan Vitug is a highly respected Filipino investigative journalist, author, and the editor-at-large for the news organization Rappler. Her work focuses on Philippine justice, security, and political affairs, particularly issues involving China and the South China Sea.

Reviews

[Jon Adreeane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read to those who wish to learn the dynamics of Philippine Supreme Court. In the end, Supreme Court Justices are also human, and therefore they are not immune to the culture of corruption in the Philippines. In the words of the fictional character Patty Hewes of the American legal drama Damages - "The powerful corrupt the law when they use it as a club to bludgeon the weak."

[Therese]

i was an elementary school student, barely aware of what was going on in current events, during corona's impeachment proceedings, so it was nice to learn about the case and its context albeit quite belatedly. sad to think that the succeeding administration would later dash hopes of the gradual strengthening of the rule of law.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Classic Vitug: factual and egoless reporting that reads like a thriller. I know very little about Philippine judiciary myself but I couldn’t put the book down. I found it easy reading and have learned so much. Thank you Marites!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting the inside story was great and all, but I wish they had done a better job of proofing and copy editing.

[Tonipi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My boss is quoted extensively in one chapter of this book!