The two faces of justice in the Philippines!

The need for Justice was a problem during the Marcos Dictatorship and the assassination of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. triggered a nationwide call for Justice for Ninoy, Justice for All (JAJA). Today the rich and the powerful and yes, the armed groups continue to make a mockery out of our Justice system. Here are two faces of how Justice continues to work or do not work in this country today.

The first one happened last Jan.12 when former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste was reported to have shot and killed his longtime friend, Rafael de las Alas, his Executive Officer in Leviste's office at the LPL Tower. When the news reports from the tv networks began reporting this incident, we heard Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay say that this case was closed because Leviste already confessed to the killing, that he did it in self-defense. This was concurred by the Makati Police Chief who said that there was no need for further investigation as the killer already admitted his guilt.

Well as things turned out for the former Batangas Governor, he was arrested the other day on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 where his case was elevated to murder with no provision for bail. If you've been following the very well publicized investigation on his case, there were so many discrepancies like fingerprints that do not match with the victim, leading to the possibility of another person who may have witnessed the event.

But while Leviste is now in jail as a murder, not a homicide suspect I would like to believe that there's more to this killing that meets the eye. For instance, there was a very clear and obvious cover-up led no less than by Makati Mayor Binay himself and the Makati Police Chief. If you ask me, this was clearly a case of "Obstruction to Justice". But the question is, will the Department of Justice (DOJ) go this far to bring Justice to this case?

The other case I'd like to present is the recent incident involving Maj. Gen. Mohammad Dolorfino and Presidential Deputy Adviser on the Peace Process Ramon Santos and 22 others who were "kidnapped" by Ustadz Habier Malik of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Panamao, Sulu. Inside the MNLF camp, Gen. Dolorfino said that he was not a hostage, but was invited to stay in the camp, but admitted that he was "prevented" from leaving the camp. Of course, a couple of days later, they came back unscathed, thankfully without any further incident.

The big question is, why hasn't anyone filed kidnapping charges against Ustadz Habier Malik if he as now admitted by Gen. Dolorfino virtually held them hostage in Sulu? Are we a nation of laws or of men? It's bad enough that the MNLF can brandish high-powered weapons in public, while the ordinary Filipino citizen would be thrown to jail for carrying an unlicensed firearm. So where is Justice here? If you ask me, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) must send a clear message to all Filipinos that no one is above the law… that means no one!

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Last Wednesday after his lecture on Eco-Economics and the preservation of the Visayan Seas, Environmental Lawyer Antonio Oposa revealed to the members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) that there was a planned raid to be conducted North of Cebu. True to his word, the raid was conducted yesterday and today, there will be a press-con here as to who was the person involved in illegal activity. Here's a text that Atty. Oposa sent me yesterday morning,

"Predawn operation positive… 67 bags of ammo nitrate so far, equivalent to 20,000 of dynamite sticks! Operation still ongoing… head of the syndicate is now in custody… a high town official. Will get us details later. Syndicate mastermind is a town councilor of Northern Cebu. Will present him in a press-con tom after the inquest at 11am at the Hall of Justice. "

Like what we said about Atty. Oposa, he is a man of action and the Power of One! He is doing his share in advocating to the masses the need to stop dynamite fishing (as it destroys the breeding ground of fish) and preserve and protect our environment from further degradation. The world has now accepted the reality that global warming is all our problem.

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Birthday greetings to my compare' Mr. Jesus "Dodong" Tequillo, father of my son-in-law Atty. Jennoh Tequillo. Since he is of Chinese descent, he is now considered 60-years-old, so my family wishes only the best for him in his natal day today. Dodong and his wife Eve share with us our wonderful grandchildren Miquel Enrico and Kirsten Erica Avila Tequillo. Many happy returns of the day pare'!

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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit's columns can also be accessed at www.shootinginsidecebu.blogspot.com