Voltaire Y. Rosales

Voltaire Y. Rosales was a Filipino Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 83, Tanauan, Batangas, Philippines.

Known as Butch to family and friends, he was born on May 30, 1956 to Carmelita Ylagan and Vicente Rosales and was assassinated on June 10, 2004 as he was leaving the Hall of Justice in Tanauan.

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the De La Salle University where he majored in Political Science. From there he went on to receive his LLB from the Ateneo Law School where he was a scholar.

Since his murder he has been honored with the Ka Pepe Diokno Award of Recognition as a Champion of Human Rights, the Lux in Domino by the Ateneo de Manila University, a Special Citation from the Provincial Peace and Order Council of Batangas (2004), a Kampon ni Pakakak Award (2004), the Fraternal Order of Utopia's President's Awards for Excellence (2005), and the Barangay Dasmariñas Government Service/ Law Award (2006).

He has come to be known for as "fearless, upright and evenhanded" bringing honor to the maligned judicial system of the Philippines.

"The Following is a write-up done by the Judge's son about his experience with his dad:"

MY father, Judge Voltaire Rosales of Tanauan, Batangas, was an upright man. He never stole from the government. Jueteng and drug lords would offer him bribes, but he would refuse them. He would tell people from the underworld to give the money to the church. He was a lay minister for 16 years. He always told me that integrity cannot be bought....

One time a guy left a big box full of thousand-peso bills at our house. He threw it back at him and told him to never come back.

My dad became a judge because he had always wanted to work for his province. Every day, he would motor to Batangas from our residence in Dasmariñas Village, Makati. He didn't mind not making money. We were okay as mom is the business type. They were married for 21 years and their love for each other was unwavering.

My dad was my best friend. Every day, he would call me up to ask what time my dismissal was. He would then look at the movie schedule and we would always meet at Greenbelt 4 (he would come all the way from Batangas).We would watch a movie practically every day of the week. It didn't matter what movie. We would even watch the same movie twice if we had the time. It was because of his constant company that I never tried smoking or drugs.But he would cancel the treat if he had to work overtime in Batangas. At one time, when I was with him in Batangas and he was about to close shop at 6, he saw several old women crying. When he learned that their young kin had been arrested but they could not post bail because no one wanted to bother with them, he said we'd catch a later show and ordered the office hours extended to allow the women to post bail. "Justice delayed is justice denied," he said.When it came to high-profile cases, he never liked being on camera. In a celebrated promulgation covered on television, he just had the secretary read the verdict while he walked away from the cameras.Somebody once offered to write an editorial in praise of him, but he just said that God is the only one he wishes to please.He was my billiards buddy. Every night, we would play a game, a rotation of 9-ball, either race to three if he was tired, or race to five if he was not. He always made time for me. When I was diagnosed with clinical depression, he would stay by my bedside and watch TV with me till I fell asleep. I once saved up and bought him a nice billiard cue.It was he who taught me to be happy staying at home -- with my family. While people my age were clubbing or partying late, I was at home enjoying my family.My father was the pillar of my family. He was such a family man. He made our simple four-member family seem very big. He always told me to take care of my sister. I promise you, Dad, I will.He was a nice person. To this day I cannot find a single person who could say he was a mean man. He was always considerate and polite.My father was a holy man. When I was 6, he wanted me to become an altar boy, just like him when he was a kid. But I guess the rebel in me wanted to be different.Whenever we quarreled, he would tell me, even with my weak faith, "Son, no matter what, there is a God."Even if he knew I hated going to church, he would tell me, "Even if you just pass by or sit outside, that is good enough, as long as your intention is sincere, God will help you get back."It was he who taught me to pray in the chapel whenever I had problems. I got the habit from him to pray and reflect in the chapel, to ask God for strength. I have to admit the habit has helped me in the toughest of times. My daddy gave me the string that has kept me connected to God.

He always told me, "Son, I may not be able to give you the luxuries of life, but know that what I am doing is right and it is what must be done. Someday you'll have this, the only thing I can give you."It was his ring that his father had given him. It had a "V" on it. He had shown it to me so many times. I wear it now.I lift my dad up to the Lord. I ask the Lord to take care of my dad and give him peace. I ask the Lord to give me the strength to take care of my mom and my sister. My daddy used to tell me, "Son, as long as you do what is right, do what God wants for yourself, your family and your country, you will be protected by God."

That is why he never bothered bringing along a bodyguard.

In this sick system we have in the Philippines, it is the good people who get killed while the evil ones enjoy their loot at the expense of the people.

My dad did not deserve to be killed. He was no criminal to be shot in the head. He died because he refused to give in to peer pressure. He died because he refused to tarnish his name and the judicial system's integrity. We are alone now. At night it will be just us. My days after school will be much lonelier without the after-class movies and late-night billiards. Saturday night movies will never be the same again without the wisecracks of my dad.

But Dad will always be with us. And I know he can be an inspiration to those who work in government, that by loving God and others with a sincere heart, they can be happier than anyone and have the joy that no material possession can ever give.

I miss my father, I miss my best friend."http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Dadnme.jpg/180px-Dadnme.jpg

[http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/dec/03/yehey/top_stories/20061203top3.html Judges Among the Victims] [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police01_june11_2004 Judge Slain in Batangas] [http://members.tripod.com/babe_column/65head.htm Cooler Heads] [http://www.utopianlaw.org/content/view/58/1/ A Son's Tribute to a Fallen Hero]