‘Justice’ gone to the mob
| EDITORIAL |
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Demands of justice through a swift trial in the Maguindanao massacre case being made by several media groups as well as Palace occupants who want to score media points, are useless, as the court system in this country cannot function with speed.
Unless we change the way Philippine courts operate, there can never be a swift trial, mainly because we have not adopted the style of a continuous trial for the accused, unlike in the United States which system calls for a continuous trial.
Not even having a special court, which borders on the unconstitutional, but is being sought by other media groups, will provide and guarantee a quick trial, even if the Constitution guarantees a speedy trial for the accused, as legal moves and other motions, which are part of the court trial system, can be legally resorted to — and are part of due process accorded the accused.
Especially in the case of the Maguindanao massacre, the trial is expected to take a lot longer, since there are some 200 accused and worse, witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense number in hundreds.
Those demanding both a live telecast of the trial, as well as a special court to try the accused, plus even a disbarment of the Ampatuans’ counsel, Sigfrid Fortun, are hardly into seeking justice through democratic methods. What they want is blood and a quick conviction of the Ampatuans and their henchmen..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101124com1.html
0 comments
Post a Comment