Partisan Justice: Sending a wrong signal to young people

Friday, 18 November 2011 08:44

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

We were brought up in our homes and in our schools to obey and follow the rule of law. We are always reminded by our parents, our teachers and our government officials to always do the right thing, and be law abiding citizens. Yet, it seems, that even as all of us go through the same schooling and learning process, no matter how smart and ignorant some may be, respect for our laws and institutions seem to be elementary and seasonal for many people, including those who are supposed to be the patriarchs and matriarchs of justice in this country.

Let’s take the case of De Lima vs. Arroyo, in court and out of court, as an example of legal, societal and behavioral injustice.

We have Sec. Leila De Lima, Secretary of the Department of Justice, cornered by the TRO issued by the Supreme Court, to make a shotgun move, unprofessional and unethical it may be. Because of partisan responsibilities, she has gone out to protect the interest of the President and the administration, to prosecute the former President at all cost, at the expense of the laws of our land. Who would forget the attempt at creating the Truth Commission, the pressure put by the administration on the office of the Ombudsman, and now the Hold Departure Order issued by the DOJ against Arroyo? But don’t get me wrong here. There is no playing around with the obvious violation of fundamental law this time, and no silly excuse(s) can cover up the injustice that heeds warning to those who plan to oppose this administration.

But the equation does not stop there, since it is only a result of another partisan act, which has a lineage and a history. Many would vividly recall how the GMA administration so-called “bastardized” our institutions through E.O 464, used the PDAF as a tool to keep political allies and the controversial procurement deals it was involved in. CGMA is a smart politician, a savvy one at that, and through the appointments that she made with the Ombudsman and in the SC, she continues to exercise influence over the judicial branch of government. I would call this move “slick and sick” because by appointing majority of the Supreme Court Justices whose tenure go beyond her term, she would have control of the highest body in the judicial branch, which would be the final arbiter on issues that may surround her and her present and past actuations. Proof of that influence is the junking of E.O 1 creating the Truth Commission, and now, the TRO issued allowing Mrs. Arroyo to leave the country.

Clearly, these spate of events set a wrong example for our children, to our youth- who are the ones exposed to these silly acts of our politicians. This is clearly contrary to what is being taught to them in schools, and even at home.

Ultimately, the citizens are supposed to express more support either for the administration or the opposition, but given a rundown and tracker of what happened leading to the incidents yesterday and last night. Yet, we are giving them no choice because of the absence of sincere justice, based on both parties’ actuations.

I’m putting forward an alternative to this choice- NOW.

I think Secretary De Lima should make a graceful exit as DOJ Secretary, because her act is simply unacceptable by any standards, whether that act would prevent a possible escape by CGMA to countries without extradition treaties. The same shotgun move she used could have been the shotgun which killed her political ambitions in the process.
I think also that the entire PR team of CGMA should just cut the crap, and not make fools out of everyone, trying to overcapitalize on our being “maawain” as Filipinos. They have toyed with too much theatrics, and that is bound to explode on their faces once the Filipinos realize the history of GMA’s promises, the most popular of which is her initial proclamation not to run in 2004, only to later on change her mind.

For reforms in our justice system to take place, we have to safeguard our institutions and find credible people who can lead that drive. We should outrightly reject this perpetual cycle of vengeance going on between PNoy and CGMA. This country should not be defined by these two personalities, but by the laws that govern our land and our wonderful people.

The Justice Secretary, CGMA, PNoy- they are not above the law.

Let us remind our kids, our young people of this fact, and find better examples of justice, other than the ones we see on National TV.

Justice is not partisan… Justice is equal, and does not recognize face, party or popularity….