In a country where laws are meant to protect everyone, why is it that only those in power get justice? Why does justice come last to those who need it most?
As a Filipino, seeking justice often feels like chasing a shadow — always out of reach and painfully slow, exhausting and sometimes hopeless. Those in power can afford legal action, while the poor are left waiting in silence, stuck in a system that often values money more than truth.
“When justice sleeps, truth suffers.” This is the painful truth for those without the means to fight long and expensive legal battles. They may file a case, but the path to justice is sometimes blocked by corruption and a legal system built more to protect privilege than uphold fairness.
Imagine a mother seeking justice for her slain son, waiting years just to get a hearing. Will the families of those who lost their lives during the war on drugs ever attain the justice they deserve? These are not fictional stories -- this is the harsh reality many Filipinos face. In some cases, victims are simply paid off to discourage them from pursuing legal action.
But what if the perpetrators are minors? Under the Juvenile Justice Law, children aged 15 to below 18 who commit crimes cannot be imprisoned. Should minors who commit crimes be punished? Is justice for the victims merely delayed -- or completely denied?
Even if justice is delayed, it should never be denied. Minors who commit crimes should not be sent straight to jail, but they should undergo rehabilitation. Still, in the Philippine justice system, most victims never truly get justice. While some pursue it for years, many are eventually silenced with money, losing faith in a system that should have protected them. Kestrel Medalle / Junior Journo