Worst Form Of Corruption (Dear Judiciary)

By Reni M. Valenzuela

Stealing government money is bad. Depriving citizens of human rights is worse. But bribery that sells the truth, liberty and justice is the worst.

Inflicting injustice on any person through judicial fraud, jugglery and stealthiness is the greatest and most hideous anomaly or crime that can be done to humans, in the absence of war, courtesy of the avarcious and carnivorous.

And, alas, it’s a crime against humanity that deserves the highest form of punishment based on the Law of all laws, according to the Book of all books. “Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the Lord is their Defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. ” – Proverbs 22:22-23

The recent news / developments surrounding the slumbering issue of the “missing sabungeros” got me quickly roused, horror-struck on account of what Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said. He sounded the alarm that the mastermind of the gruesome cockfight crimes has judicial clout as he is known to have too much money to influence even the courts.

“The enemy is so powerful,” Remulla bemoaned.

But what and who is more powerful than the truth (and God)?

The words “influence” and “powerful” in the good secretary’s statements speak volumes to me. Hence, I was led to scribble down the following piece that hopes and aims to correct what’s wrong and rotten (among others) with us, Filipino people, our leaders, our courts, our magistrates, our justice system and our government.

Hindi po ba upang makamit ang katarungan, ang labanan ay sa batas, ebidensiya, katuwiran, katotohanan at karunungan? Patas, walang pagkiling at pagtatangi para sa naatasang manghusga. 

Ngunit bakit nauuwi sa katiwalian at pagtutunggali ng mga “namamagitan” gamit ang kanilang kapangyarihan, pera at impluwensiya?

‘INFLUENCE’

Allowing oneself to be influenced by “outside forces” in adjudicating cases for any government functionary is the worst form of corruption and crookedness.

I am talking (specifically) of justices, judges, prosecutors, ombudsman, and every other high-level member of the judicial branch of our democratic institution, including lawyers.

The word “influence” and “powerful” could mean various things in the context of corrupting and robbing “justice,” but the most common as practiced refer to these dickens: Bribe money, promised favors, “utang na loob,” big fat fee, “regular payroll,”  subservience to rulers, political attachment / fanatism, fraternity / personal connection, and religious / group affiliation.

By the way, how can the Office of the Ombudsman perform its job of promoting transparency and accountability in public administration when the Ombudsman himself, Samual Martires, is a staunch defender of confidential and intelligence funds out of which a big chunk of the forbidden fruit or “pork barrel” goes to his office regularly in the guise of annual “budget”?

Talk about moral ascendancy, my dear countrymen, and you have it right there — in big, big question.

Dear honorable men and women in hallowed robes: If you cannot be upright, clean, impeccable, fair, impartial, wise, godly, compassionate, conscientious, courageous and brave, you have no business being in the judiciary or in the corridors of power, much less being among those that decide court cases.

The heartless, the soulless and the conscienceless have no place in any matter of human concern where (especially) justice is involved and at stake. Neither in Heaven nor Hades can they find a place fitted and suited for themselves — for who they are.

In short, be God-fearing, Light-bearer, truth-seeker, devil-slayer — incorruptible. Resist temptations and expose the tempters.

Why sentence and punish the guiltless and make the guilty go scot free? Awful. Is the word hellish or diabolic too exaggerated a term to describe these crooked, devious, corrupt creatures?

Ergo, if you are one among such creatures in “public service,” then you are a disciple of death and darkness no doubt, spreading more and more darkness, public darkness and miseries, in society and country (as you get richer) before you ultimately and unwittingly throw every soul down and away — to everlasting fire and blackness (with you) — yourselves as conduits of the wicked, modish Beelzebub on planet earth.

What is peaceful and enjoyable in becoming filthy rich? You will carry the “load” / heaviness behind your back for the rest of your life and the “life” hereafter.

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” – Amos 5:24

GOOD NEWS

Going around the country, I have discovered some prosecutors in nine different places of the country to be kind human beings and wise, tender, good government officials.

The good news, despite the bad news, is that there are still members of the judiciary who have been performing their jobs right, well and conscientiously, and have been living simple, honest, heroic lives as true public servants.

I am especially blessed to have known a humble and upright Regional Trial Court judge in the person of a next door neighbor during the first ten years of my married life in a Quezon City apartment back in the mid 80s until mid 90s.

ADMONITION

Dear President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Supreme Court, Department of Justice, Ombudsman, Congress and impeachment court, it would do you well to demolish “cultures” and “traditions” by disseminating the Light contained herein (striking, bold and ennobling as it is) and cause yourselves and every other official and staff in your respective domains to be jolted and awakened from deep spiritual sleep and gross moral decadence.

How can you afford to sit idly by in a situation like this?

Print and frame copies of the article you are now reading, if you will, and have them posted on the doorjambs of your offices and in every hallway – with due respect.

It is for the welfare, well-being and service of the nation and Filipinos (more so the poor, marginalized, powerless, and victims) that you will do this, not to mention your own salvation and promotion as among its good, wondrous results – for the greater glory, praise and honor of God Almighty.

Purge / cleanse your ranks is the divine, obliging order of the day.

Time and tide wait for no man.

But what are you doing and waiting for?

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com