The Abused TRO, Unrealistic Bail, and Cybercrime

The Abused TRO, Unrealistic Bail, and Cybercrime
By Apolinario Villalobos

It seems that the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) has been abused to the hilt. Some parties which are glaringly guilty find it as a means to slow down the justice system. All it takes for these parties to have is a “wise” lawyer who has the guts to use his trade in twisting truths to their advantage. In any democratic country, this sad reality has to be accepted because of the system.

On bails, some has been proven outdated, especially, in the Philippines. One classic example is what happened in our neighborhood when a burglar was caught in the act of going over the fence of his victim, by a neighbor, at dawn. A citizen’s arrest was made. The culprit was turned over to the barangay (village council) for investigation, a required process before he can be turned over to the police. At the police station, necessary recording and other processes were done until the culprit was brought to the court for the inquest. It was already almost five in the afternoon when the whole process was finally capped (practically, it took a whole day), with the culprit going scot free after posting a bail of 2,000 pesos! It was disheartening and disgusting because burglaries have been committed in the neighborhood for months and the residents suspect the same syndicate. And, with a mere 2,000 pesos, he is free again to do this trade.

On the issue of cybercrime, the justice system is again questioned. The Supreme Court sidelined important issues on child pornography, hacking and others, to give more importance to “libelous statements”. Just recently, a raid was made in a suburb of Manila in a house and a school where on-line pornography was in progress. Among those brought to the police station were of course, the participants, but a very disturbing information was about the use of a three- year old child in the trade. The raid did not merit much publicity. Add to this the lukewarm issue the ongoing hacking of websites even of the government agencies. Unfortunately, these two particular activities do not seem to interest of the agencies concerned. Obviously, the one on “libelous statements” seem more heavy as an issue because the “reputation” of those in the government is at stake.

The Problem of Legislation in the Philippines

The  Problem  of   Legislation  in  the  Philippines

By  Apolinario   Villalobos

 

There  is  a  move  by  Philippine  Congress  to  amend   a  particular   section  of   Constitution   to   accommodate  the  government ‘s   effort   in   enticing   foreign  investors   in   the   Philippines.   The  assurance   of   the  Congress   is  that   nothing   else  shall   be   touched,  except   the  insertion   of   the   “unless,   otherwise,  provided   by   law…”,  which   is   self-explanatory.   However,  though,  those   four   innocent    and    simply   spelled    words   could  mean   a   disaster   if   triggered   by   another   simple   word  –  abuse.    A   dangerous   scenario   is   that   of   future   legislators   coming   up  with  laws   that will  favor   foreign   investors   in   exchange   for   favors.   Future   lawmakers   will  no   longer   be   interested   in  pork   barrels   which   are   theoritically    scrapped,   but   in  commissions   from   foreign   investors    favored   by   the   law   that  they   shall  passed.

 

The   Filipinos   are   already   suffering   from   the   effect   of    laws   that   altered    the   economic   system   of   the  country.   Foremost   of   these   are   those   that   privatized   the   basic   service   providers   and   oil   deregulation.    The   government    seems   helpless    in   undoing   the   policies   that   are   glaringly   damaging    to   the   lot   of   Filipinos.    Even   without    the   proposed   change   in  the   Constitution,   somehow ,   existing   laws   regarding   investment   in   the   country   are   already    circumvented    to   favor   some   parties.    Add   to   these   the    invasion   of   foreign   miners,  and,   what   do  we   get?