"AN ACT DECLARING THE FILING OF FALSE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS AS A CRIME AGAINST HONOR, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
Now here is a perversion of justice filed by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.
Let us say I think this act is a perversion of justice, and I file a legal complaint against Senator Revilla. We go to court and have complex arguments about free speech and legal rights and the honor of public officials, but I lose the case.
Senator Revilla then files a case against me, for his honor has been shamed by being so challenged, and I lose. The law says I can be imprisoned and pay a fine not less than P 50,000.
The law silences any criticism of public officials.
What we have here is a perfect example of the Filipino Ego at its onion skin worst, where any complaint is seen as a threat to honor. Does Senator Revilla not see that it is this same tenderness of skin that drove the Ampatuans to, allegedly, commit a horrendous crime?
My recommendation to the good senator is to "man up". Public office holders should operate under a magnifying glass. It is one of the precious checks and balances of a democratic system. One person's insult is another person's cause, and he ought not to try to suppress the advocates who see things differently than him.
This is appropriate in the Philippine setting where Filipinos run to their idiotic friendly "professional" journalist and publish it without vetting the information. Examples:
ReplyDelete1. ZTE investigation. Foreign-educated-ivy-school-graduate CEO Joey de Venecia III went to the media WITHOUT gathering evidences;
2. Alleged bribe to Lozada of 500,000 pesos and one way ticket to Hong-Kong. I can never survive on 500,000 in Hong-Kong FOREVER. My wife earns 300,000 pesos and barely make ends meet how much more in Hong-Kong;
3. Mr. San Miguel (ZTE personality) was seen receiving an envelope and the media screamed "BRIBERY!!!!" when they didn't even know what was in the envelope;
4. People involved in ZTE was seen going to a room and the media and witnesses again screamed "BACK ROOM DEAL ! " and the media happily published it;
5. and many many many many more.
If they want to sully someone's honor they better come up with EVIDENCES to make it stick.
Now we have another gossip before the Senate about "send-away" money in Armed Forces of the Philippines. AGAIN THERE IS NO EVIDENCES PRESENTED.
Philippine justice is not run the way Americans run their justice. Philippines are run by gossips.
Yes, the justice system lacks open access here. If it were open, simple libel suits would clean up the false claims. I fear the proposed bill would cut off legitimate complaints, the give and take that keeps democracy balanced.
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