|
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Editorials: Politics in the justice system
There is something deeply disturbing in the way politics is perceived to subtly or crudely stymie our pursuit of justice in the country.
Compartmentalized justice is a term that has emerged from the perception that in the Philippines justice is only for the social elite and the rich who are politically influential. Ironically, the belief has not been lacking in supporting incidents.
There was the resignation of a Sandiganbayan Justice Edilberto Sandoval early this week. The reason given was ill health, something
the Supreme Court did not accept when it turned down the resignation.
But the real reason has very strong political undertones. Sandoval was known to have opposed all moves giving former president Joseph Estrada, who is charged with plunder, preferential treatment.
Estrada has been allowed to go to Hongkong to undergo a knee operation but is reportedly living it up there, entertaining visiting former members of his Cabinet. Only political influence could have given him such judicial privileges.
These incidents are separate but are essentially inter-twined, with politics perceptible as being at the heart of their unfolding.
Malacañang, however, has been quick to deny it had something to do with the resignation of Justice Sandoval, who was so steadfast in his opposition to the grant of privileges to Erap to the extent that he was reportedly bypassed in court promotions. Recently, an associate justice much junior to him, was appointed presiding justice of the anti-graft court.
There is no doubt that the men behind the nation’s justice system are trying to come up with effective reforms that would help restore the trust and confidence of the average Filipino in our courts. But their success depends on the intensity of the politics at play in the judiciary.
Vanishing delicadeza
One social virtue that has given the Filipinos an upright image is delicadeza. A hand-me-down from our Spanish colonizers, delicadeza has imposed a measure of moral discipline on every citizen.
Lately, however, delicadeza has suffered a diminished sheen as a valued rationale behind the action one takes as a result of social infractions.
Traditionally, Filipinos who commit acts contrary to generally accepted social behavior resign from position of trust or withdraw from social contacts.
Such notion of delicadeza underlies the recent incident where the head of the National Bureau of Investigation was seen having dinner with a person under suspicion of being involved in drug trafficking.
Such a circumstance the NBI chief should have avoided, if only to avoid tainting the public image of his office, if not that of his own.
(January 13, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
