Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Editorial: Bastardizing the courts of law
THE transfer of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to the US Embassy was an act that bastardized the Philippine judicial system.
What exactly is Malacañang trying to do? Prove to the world that it is above the law? That it could transfer prisoners even before the Court of Appeals can issue a ruling?
The Administration officials who worked to move the transfer of Smith, a rape convict who was sentenced to suffer a life imprisonment, to the custody of the American Government defended their moves saying, among others, that the Philippine troops can now resume playing some war games with their White counterparts.
Certainly, it is a great reason for indeed had they not decided to move Smith then the Little Brown soldiers would not have another chance to play with the Americans.
The transfer proves the Administration official's utter disregard for the rule of law and their desire to please the American government at whatever cost.
A number of them reasoned out that the transfer was legal since the Department of Justice has issued an opinion that the transfer complies with the laws.
Since when did the department of Raul Gonzalez stood higher than the courts of law?
Secretary Gonzalez was quoted saying he has informed the court of their decision to transfer American criminal to the custody of Uncle Sam and that the court noted this. Since when did a simple notation became a court decision? What happens when the Appellate Court sustains the decision of the lower court?
The courts of law is the last bastion of freedom in the country. When the executive branch is allowed to bastardize this, it may as well get rid of the law altogether.
When a government sets one standard of justice for the rich and powerful and another for the lowly, it has ceased to become a government of honor, justice and equality.
