1. Why do you want to study law?

You may include your personal stories or experiences that

have inspired you to study law. Do not hesitate to state the real reason why you will study law.
(max 800 words)

2. Covid-19 has disrupted everyone’s activities. In response to the crisis, governments across
the globe have used their emergency powers, but the exercise of emergency powers are not without
issues from constitutional and human rights lenses. In your view, how is law relevant or important in
this health crisis? What is the role of rule of law norm in battling the pandemic?
(max 800 words)
(rough English pa ni)
During this time when the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has created uncertainties and fear
across the globe, it is of utmost importance that governments should act to provide security and
assurance upon their constituents. Since dire times require speedy actions, some states including
our own has opted to pass laws that grant emergency powers to its leaders. However, the success of
combating the crisis still depend on how these governments utilize such power.
Our country itself has seen over the past few months the plans that our leaders have laid out and
implemented under the coverage of this law given power. Take over of privately owned hospitals has
allowed it to enforce acceptance of patients infected, especially of those with critical conditions.
Shouldering of health care and funeral costs for the infected and the deceased respectively, has
allowed financial obstacles not to hinder the attainment of these services. Regulating and limiting
transportation to reduce travels has allowed decreased contact amongst people as a matter of social
distancing policy, and thus mitigate transmission. Coordination between the national and local
governments agencies has allowed the delegation of the provision of financial assistance to the
needy families and the decrease in bureaucracies in governmental processes. Incentives to private
entities were given to ensure access to medical supplies and equipment.
Such law given power has therefore allowed our government to actualize their plans through these
actions. But survival of a state requires that cooperation between the government and its
constituents must always be ensured. Thus, provisions imposing punishment to violators of
government policies and regulations are also put into effect. These include those punishing violations
of quarantine restrictions and the deliberate spreading of fake news that may cause panic. Measures
against unfair profiteering and hoarding especially on necessities in commercial activities also
prevented abuses by business entities. People are expected to know what is required of them,
understanding at the same time the context of the government’s reasoning behind their orders. For
societal interest not to be harmed at large, their compliance and respect is therefore of utmost
importance.
Regardless of the situation a state is subjected into, people’s rights and freedoms must remain
protected. The law should be the same for everyone and thus, everyone should be afforded its
protection and aid. For instance, now that every person seeks medical attention such as being tested
and treated from the disease, the same should then be extended without consideration of status or
position in the society.

every person is entitled to the equal protection of the law and a freedom to express views.
Governments must be put into checking through check and balances
upholding of basic freedoms and rights such as those of equal protection, freedom of speech, right
to be protected against unreasonable seizures and arrest, (add more rights freedoms) among others
must be ensured.
How this country’s government was able to protect these rights and freedoms remained to be
debated as the pandemic continues to ensue. Can persons who disobeyed quarantine enforcers be
simply arrested? Do violations of these rules supposedly instituted for the protection of the people
entitle these implementers to impose degrading punishments that go against the dignity of these
violators? Can people be barred from earning with their livelihood stalled and the economic activities
disrupted during these quarantines? Is the taking of human life or the disrespect of womanhood by
those with authority justifiable, simply under the guise of possessing authority? In a democratic
country where people’s voice must be heard, does expression of dissent against the government
actions necessitates tight restrictions in information outlets such as the internet and broadcasting
companies, especially during this time when people are anxious and uncertain and thus seek for
reliable information? How then can mistakes be pointed out if critical discourse is no longer possible?
What constitutes and who gets to define “fake” news that warrant punishment from authorities?
Disagreements are healthy, if the aim is to give a wider picture of a situation with a shared goal of
betterment. The law, being of public knowledge, requires the citizens to act in conformance with its
requirements. Nevertheless, the same law has also allowed these citizens to form expectations of
what and how the government should act. A reciprocal relationship that aims for fairness and
equality means that accountability must be expected not just from the constituents but also from the
government. To avoid abuses of power, the latter cannot also act outside the framework laid out by
the law by acting purely in an arbitrary manner simply based on preferences. Therefore, although it is
the President as well as those under him in the executive department that were primarily empowered
to execute plans against the pandemic, transparency requires that their actions still be subjected to
scrutiny. Justice requires that any abuses of power should allow people to avail of the independent
judiciary’s aid, impartially weighing the side not just of those in the authority but also of those whose
rights and freedoms should remain to be safeguarded and defended. (sumpayi rule of law norm)
Remedies for issues that continue to arise from the questioned use of governmental powers is
supposedly addressed by the same supreme law itself that allows for the exercise of such powers.
The government is not the law, but the people cannot also be left to their own devices if both them
and the former aim for a just and prosperous society. This pandemic has allowed citizens to see the
capabilities of its leaders. On the other hand, the same pandemic has also revealed to the
government as to what extent is its citizens’ trust and confidence. As everyone continues to struggle
in finding the cure for the virus, so will the quest for achieving unity especially during these difficult
times through consensus of ideals under the sphere of the law.