THE PHILIPPINES' CRUMBLING 5 PILLARS OF JUSTICE

I had a conversation with a Fil-Am expat the other day over dinner. And soon, our discussion drifted to the many cases he has pending in court, mainly to do with people transgressing on his ancestral property. He is getting terribly frustrated at every turn.

So, I told him about the 5 Philippine Pillars of Justice:

Each and every single one is broken and will soon crumble under the burden of patronage politics and governance going haywire, bringing the whole system down:

• Pillar #1 - Law Enforcement: There are very good and well meaning people in the PNP. Some of them are close friends of mine. But, God knows, the whole system is very suspect of protectionism, graft and corruption. How else will the saying exist: "Hayahay pa's pulis."
• Pillar #2 - Prosecution: (Same as #1. "Hayahay pa's piscal.")
• Pillar #3 - Coursts: Plain and simple judges and judgements can be bought.
• Pillar #4 - Corrections: If you have the resources, you'll get your way and do whatever you want to do in the correctionals.
• Pillar #5 - Community: The community does not care anymore for "legal or illegal". Look around you, there is always something illegal going on - with no fail! The community does not care.

One of these days, I am going to write the book: "Surviving in the Virtual Anarchy of Present Philippine Society".