AN ANCIENT law maxim was quoted saying, “DURA LEX SED LEX”. This cliché got a lot of interpretations from the harshness of the law to its leniency. As I went through the pages of history, I found out that there were a lot of inconsistencies and discrepancies in the implementation of the law. The inconsistency in the implementation of a law makes the law funny and silly. Most often, these laws become toothless or people will no longer follow them soon.
In this country, we have a lot of inconsistencies in the implementation of many laws. The “rich and the powerful” often got the side of the law in the recent past. Today, most of the weak and the oppressed have the law on their side. When will the middle class get the side of the law? But of course, there are those who base the implementation on the evidences filed and not on the feelings at hand.
Our dear legislators of the past and present have debated on advantages and disadvantages of any law that they passed and would pass. The President on the other hand studies the law, whether to sign it or to trash it. The Supreme Court waits for someone to question the validity of the law. In a democratic state like the Philippines, we all possess the right to question any law passed by Congress and signed by the President. The problem is that most of the laws are just simply accepted blindly.
Let us take a look at the orders of the president. He wanted to check the PCSO and their business by suspending the gambling operations. A few days after, even without the report from PCSO, lottery was returned. Now, Small Town Lottery (STL) is back but with a quota of 120 million a month. Now, where are the reports of the expenditures of the profits from these legal gambling activities? I hope I am the only one who has not been updated of such reports. I have heard from somewhere that the authorities have already approved of the expenditures.
Another inconsistency is the execution of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA law) where the implementation is not fair and now is in great question. If the news did not break out on the case of Mayor Sanchez, then the inconsistency might have not been seen. It is only today, that we know that many of the criminals were released due to GCTA. The law is the law but how about the victims of the crimes? Would it be fair? One law expert said that GCTA could solve the congestion problem in our jails. But may I ask, will it give justice to the crime done to the victim?
Another inconsistency in the implementation are local ordinances. How beautiful it is to see that our sidewalks are back. Everyday, I see people destroying their edifice that violates such local ordinances. It looks good but until when will this be? One day, we wake up that all these are just nightmares and once again see the reclamation of our sidewalks.
So, Inconsistent laws or ordinances are simply papers that would just add to the libraries o lawyers. We have a lot of laws but the implementation are either too slow or most of them are just simple decorations in law offices.
My felicitations to the Supreme Court for their decision to junk same sex marriage in the Philippines. Morality is still there. Thumbs-up. We are Filipinos and we are not copycats.
Congratulations to cousin Raji and Maricel Infante on their beautiful and solemn wedding last September 4, Feast of Our Lady of Consolation. Birthday greetings also to Mr. Antonio Infante on his 70th birthday.
St. Ezekiel Moreno, pray for us.