Pardons and Amnesty are only for the rich
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
Fighting for justice is Philippines like walking bare footed up Mt. Everest. One aspect of my apostolate is saving kids from abusers and to see they get therapy, become empowered and seeking justice. With God's help and the support of good people we can deliver all their human and spiritual needs but the children are at mercy of the justice system that seems to favor the accused more than the complainant.
Judges I hear are quick to dismiss a case for a consideration but rarely will they convict for any payment. I can never forget the scene in open court in Manila where a lady judge confronted a child raped by her father and asked if she wanted to send him to jail or forgive him. This in front of a dozen people. The 14 year old faced with such overwhelming pressure could only whisper? ‘Opo, Yes Mam.’ ‘Good’, said the judge ‘case dismissed’. The fact that the father never pleaded guilty made this all the more shocking. It's not a rare isolated incident our files are full of similar cases. That's the way it is here bribery is not unheard of.
Prosecutors too are open to temptation and many a case is dismissed despite overwhelming evidence. Settling cases behind closed doors is common. The Department of Justice is doing all it can to remove the corrupt.
Another disturbing case dragging on here for four (4) years is the multiple rape of two small elementary school girls, a 13 year-old and a 15 year-old by two well-off men with connections. The accused were already arranged defence witnesses presented not to provide an alibi but to defame the children by saying they were promiscuous, a tacit admission of guilt by the accused.
The case was going against the suspected rapists but by some extraordinary legal acrobatics the proceedings were stopped, the file was returned to the office of the prosecutor for ‘reconsideration’, and after a while it was unbelievably dismissed by the lady prosecutor last 18 September. That was too much for a senior prosecutor who may have stepped in to stop the charade knowing it's going to become a public scandal on the internet and in the media. GMA7 is already riding to the rescue.
We really admire those little girls and their brave mother for standing unwavering by the truth despite threats and the harsh defamatory accusations thrown against them.
The calls for forgiveness and pardon for the former president and actor Joseph Estrada, a one time screen idol who was driven from office by a peaceful people power movement backed by the catholic church due to misrule and corruption. He was recently convicted of plunder and sentenced to 40 years in jail after a six (6) year trial. Since the beginning he was confined to the luxury of house arrest at his sumptuous country home. Congressman Jalosjos convicted of raping an 11 year old and sentenced to two (2) life terms got a pardon last June 2007 after serving a fraction of that.
No dirty hellhole prison for the powerful and the wealthy unlike subhuman conditions that children have to endure in police stations mixed with pedophiles and rapists. There they are fighting off rats and mosquitoes, hunger and disease. No speedy trial for them, no pardon or amnesty. Those easy privileges are for the rich.
Corruption is a way of life for the political elite. Last year the Philippines was voted by Asian businessmen the second most corrupt place to do business. Indonesia has number one place according to a survey.
The government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is in the hot seat over revelations that an elections commissioner brokering a $329 deal with a Chinese company to install an internet broadband system nation wide allegedly offered bribes to Romulo Neri the former Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to approve it.
Soon there will be someone else to pardon but it will not be the hundreds of street kids and teenagers incarcerated behind bars even though the law says they should never be there. But then who says it is the rule of law that rules? -End-
