“Criminals Out –Justice In”

By Zia Danica Marcos

“We want justice!!!”- These are the common words that you can hear from a rally. People
who are fighting for the truth and for their rights as a Filipino citizens are hoping that the
government will stand and will listen to them. But what is the action taken by our
government? Does a simple press conference or interview from them is enough to serene
the people and to inform them that the law exists? The bolder question is: Are there laws
that will upright the truth and freedom for everyone?

The Philippines has national court system that would engage the right procedure of our
law. This national court system consists of four levels: local and regional trial courts;
informal local system for mediating certain disputes outside the formal court system;
national Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Our constitution calls for an independent
judiciary and defendants in criminal cases must undergo in the right counsel. The legal
system is based on common law and civil law. There is no jury system in our country.
Every defendant has the prerogative to confront witnesses, to present evidence and to
appeal.

Our country is full of law that will defend our human rights-RIGHTS to attain our justice.
But what is justice for the family of Lauro Vizconde? Most Filipinos are still shocked on
the decision of the Supreme Court to acquit Hubert Webb and six others on the Vizconde
Massacre case. I am referring to the crime that happened on June 30, 1991 when a mother
and two daughters found murdered in their own home. Estrellita Vizconde 47,suffered 13
stab wounds; Carmela 18,suffered 17 stab wounds and had been raped before she was
killed; Jennifer 7,had 19 stab wounds. This was tagged as the “Vizconde Massacre”, the
gruesome crime grasp the nation for years. But after a long years, the Supreme Court
acquitted the main suspects and stipulated that no more motions for reconsideration
would be entertained. Many Filipinos are still sympathizing for Lauro Vizconde over
this kind of ‘injustice’. Frankly speaking, that incident strongly proves that justice is what
poor cry for.

I am afraid that the same fate would happen on the Ampatuans, being notorious for
killing journalists and other people known this as the “Ampatuan Massacre”. This single
incident had made the Philippines surpass Iraq as the most dangerous place for
journalists. Ampatuans were known as the powerful family in Maguindanao. They made
an ambushed to the convoy of the fiercest rival, the Mangudadatus who was about to file
certificates of candidacy. They brutally killed them and buried them using a government
backhoe. It’s been a year when the relatives of the victims cried for justice. They have
fear that it may also go into a two-decade long judicial process that the Vizconde Massa
cre decision would happen again in their case in favor of Ampatuans.

On the other hand, I can say that the corruption in the Philippines is one of the most
practices of injustice. When the issue of “Pabaon System” was revealed by Lt. Col.
George Rabusa and former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, many people believed that they
are the key to reveal our rotten system. They named many influential people who were
also part of corruption. One of them was former AFP Chief of staff and Defense and
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. Reyes is one among the former AFP chiefs who
allegedly received P50 million according to the testimony of Lt. Col. Rabusa. Angelo
Reyes was known by being a dignified person. He was one of the promising leaders who
had shown his love for our country. But last February 8, 2011, Reyes committed suicide
by shooting himself on the chest at the front of his mother’s grave. Many stories behind
this suicide were circulated. They said that Reyes cannot take the allegations and the
destruction of his reputation. Some said that Reyes cannot take his conscience from the
Filipino soldiers who have sworn to defend their country and sacrifice their lives to
protect our country. But Angelo Reyes’ suicide must not stop the Department of Justice
from its investigation. It is not all about the suicide of Angelo Reyes but it is for the truth
for the Filipinos.

Our justice system must have a speedy trial and not take the courts a long time to settle
and stabilize those cases. We must have an equal justice for everyone. We must demand
an authentic reforms in our justice system to give confidence for the Filipinos that we
have a fair justice. Our government must wake up and open their eyes to the things that
they should do. Our new administration must upright the rights of the poor and less
powerful people. We should be open and extend our arms to support our law to attain our
freedom and to have a peaceful living.