The Philippine Justice System, Lawyers, and General State of Rehabilitation Facilities
Posted on Wednesday, 17 December 2014
The
Philippine Justice System, Lawyers
and
General State of Rehabilitation Facilities
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
A crucial change in the life of a man may
be caused by being at the right place at the right time or by having guts to
face odds rejected by others. For the lawyer in particular, these are what he
needs to prosper with his profession. Too much risk is involved with the
thought, “now or never”, that serves as the force that pushes the desirous
lawyer towards his ambition to be recognized.
“Sensation” is the keyword for the success
of a lawyer. This is the reason why, a lawyer always aspires to handle a case
that hugs the limelight, never mind if it seems a losing one due to glaring
evidences against the client. The more controversial the case is, the better
for the lawyer, because he will benefit from the attention that his client will
get.
As dictated by the law books, no person is
guilty unless proven beyond doubt. This is the reason why the eyes of the Lady
Justice are covered because before the court, both victim and the aggressor are
equal, and each side should present convincing evidences to win the case. Woe then,
to the innocent client who can only afford an inexperienced lawyer with limited
references. On the other hand, the obviously guilty party easily avoids
conviction with the help of well-paid “expert” and “seasoned” lawyers.
Philippine prisons are filled to the
rafters with erroneously convicted victims of injustice due to their inability
to get the right lawyer to defend them, and worse, inability to get one due to
their poverty. Despite this glaring defect in the justice system of the
Philippines that contributes to the bursting of rehabilitation facilities, the
national government remained inept…reacting only when scandals erupt, such as
the affluent lifestyle of convicts at the maximum security section of the
National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa which has become an embarrassing
national issue.
The rest of rehabilitation facilities,
except for penal farms, are in the same situation. Practically all of them
suffer from want of decent sanitation facilities. Inmates take turns in
sleeping on the floor, while the rest remain on their feet for the rest of the
night. Diseases add to the miseries of the inmates, with some, not yet convicted.
And the food rations are far from decent.
Rich inmates buy their comfort by bribing
corrupt jail guards and officers. Drug trafficking is still operated by drug
lords from the maximum security section of the national penitentiary, and prostitution
proliferates with the blessing of the paid jail guards. It is only in the
Philippines where one can find detention cells inside maximum security section
yet, of the national penitentiary, furnished akin to a richy home, complete
with spa, jacuzzi, home theater, and aircon units.
When Kabungsuan Makilala, a jail guard of
the Bureau of Correction, exposed the anomalies inside the national
penitentiary, nothing came out of information extracted from him. A minor
change in guards was implemented to show that something is being done.
Afterwards there was a deafening lull within the Department of Justice.
It was only when a committee of Congress
charged with the programs for the country’s rehabilitation facilities exposed
their shock on the state of the national penitentiary, did the Department of Justice (DOJ) again
made noise, most especially, because the modernization budget of the facilities
is at stake. When the Senate stepped into the picture, the DOJ showed its most
convincing move by launching “surprise” inspections, but without de Lima having
made threats against the NBP officials on TV, thereby, broadcasting their moves!
Finally, despite the scandalous discoveries
made lately, the DOJ statements as
regards its plans to rid the country’s
rehabilitation facilities of corrupt officials and lower ranking employees are
still wanting of sting. With the budget for the modernization of the country’s
rehabilitation facilities already in the bag, one can’t help but expect many
pockets to bulge.
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