Do you trust the justice system in the Philippines? Why or why not?

Claurence Somoso, Quezon City: If we can’t trust our judicial system, then where else can we turn? It’s a must that we trust our judiciary.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: No. Look, si Erap, pardoned agad; ang mga justices, hawak sa leeg ni GMA. Nasaan ang hustisya?

No trust

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: No, I ceased trusting the justice system since the time the former President snatched the presidency. Our judiciary has been ranked as one of the most corrupt institutions under the Arroyo administration. The recent Supreme Court decision voiding the creation of the Truth Commission has diminished even more the people’s trust in our justice system.

We want to but cannot

Rouel Arano, Manila: Dapat tayo magtiwala dahil yun ang nararapat, pero iba kasi ang nangyayari. Pati mga opisyal ng judiciary walang takot sa Diyos.

Jun Cajucom, Metro Manila: From what I read in The Philippine STAR, hear in the local news, and watch on TV, I wish I could give the justice system even just a little trust.

The rich have the upperhand

Felix Ramento, USA: No, and this is based on experience. Under our justice system, rich and influential litigants always have the upperhand against the poor party. In fact, we would not have become the breeding ground of advocates of the longest-running communist insurgency in this part of the world if only we had a working justice system.

Lelanie Alegiojo, Cavite: No, I don’t. Justice is only for those who are rich and I learned about this the hard way. We, the poor people, just keep our silence.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: No, justice is unequal for the rich and the poor. We have corrupt justices and other court officials and justice is for sale in our country.

Mariette Hizon, Metro Manila: A big no! I have a very low regard for our justice system. More often than not, the powerful and moneyed perpetrators of crime pay the justices.

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: No, the justice system in our country only favors the rich and powerful. If you belong to the privileged few, high and mighty Filipinos, expect no case against you, or if there is, it will just go down the drain if it is not whitewashed.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: I have never trusted our justice system because its dispensation is selective: Favorable decisions often go to the one who pay more.

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: I don’t trust the justice system here because judges can be paid. If you’re poor and trying to get justice, consider yourself dead meat. But if you’re rich and guilty as hell but can very well pay off those judges, then justice will be in your favor.

Jayson Biadog, Mandaluyong City: It’s 50-50 because I can see a lot of people using power and money to buy justice.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Not all the time, especially when the accused are rich and influential.

Joan Cejes, Makati City : Yes, there is justice only if you’re rich, famous and powerful. But if not, you won’t get justice at all. Unfortunately, I’m in the latter.

Rico Mario, Metro Manila: Always remember this: In a Third World country like the Philippines, justice is only for the rich. Kaya kaibigan, iwas na lang sa gulo against rich people, at tiyak na mabubulok ka lang sa bilangguan habang buhay.

Slow justice

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: No. How long does it take for our justices to hand down a decision? Five, 10, 20, 30 years? A case of justice delayed, justice denied perhaps?

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: I do not trust our justice system. Kapag big and influential persons ang involved, parang dini-delay ang kaso.

Lucas Banzon Madamba, Laguna: The administration of justice in the Philippines is just so slow it’s quite difficult to trust it.

Nestor Chan, Metro Manila: The wheels of justice in the Philippines roll so slow. There are too many delays and so many expenses for legal proceedings.

Lady justice is not blind

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: I started losing my trust in our justice system since the case of “hoodlums in robe” was exposed. Furthermore, their indifference to the Truth Commission strengthened my belief that most of the justices are protecting GMA, their benefactor.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: I have lost faith and trust not in our justice system but in the administrators of justice. There are those who are intelligent but, more often than not, are driven by personal interests.

Hoodlums in robe

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Former President Estrada was right when he called our justices “hoodlums in robe”. Many of them are just so corrupt.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Erap might be an ex-convict but I believe him 100 per cent when he said that our justices are hoodlums in robe. He was basing it from experience.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Erap, the pardoned plunderer, knows only too well the goings-on in the judiciary and in government that I believed him when he addressed those ‘honorable’ judges and justices as hoodlums in robe. The reason why the ‘padrino’ system works in our courts is because our judges and justices are political appointees and it is but natural for them to return, tenfold, whatever favors were extended to them by their scheming benefactor.

I trust it enough

Riana Manibog Garcia, Singapore City: I have enough trust in it.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: I still trust the Philippine justice system even if sometimes it is tilted in favor of moneyed and influential people.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Well, I still trust the justice system. I guess it’s a yes except for Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona because he’s taking it out on P-Noy at the expense of truth.

Our justice system can be trusted

Adel Corpus, Quezon City: Of course, our justice system can be trusted. The guilty, like Trillanes and Lacson, conveniently use the line ‘Our justice system cannot be trusted’ as an excuse for their wrongdoings.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: I still trust the justice system in the Philippines. However, the justices must not be influenced by political patronage because sooner or later they will lose their credibility.

Larry Parroco, Quezon City: Malaki pa rin ang tiwala ko sa ating justice system. The justices are fair and square in their decisions. Those who are against it, well, tanggapin na lang ninyo ang mga hatol.

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: I trust our justice system but allegations of wrongdoings by some of its implementors have yet to be discussed.

I don’t trust the government, period

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: It is not just the judiciary but also the executive and legislative branches of government that I do not trust. Our democratic system is fine but those who comprise it are really corrupt. We just have to live with it, sad to say.

We don’t have a choice

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: A good justice system must have the full trust and confidence of the general public to make it effective. I trust our justice system, but perhaps, some changes should be made to maintain its integrity and fairness to all.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I must, it’s the only one we’ve got. If I don’t, how can I be protected and guided by the laws of the land? I see chaos.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Why not? Outside the system is a lonely, lonely world. No man is an island.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Whether we like it or not, we must trust our justice system, otherwise, chaos will prevail and I’m sure we don’t want this to happen.

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: We may have an imperfect justice system in our country but it’s all we have. You don’t run away from it. Instead, trust it.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Why not? Our justice system may not be perfect but we must not cease finding a solution to our predicaments. Otherwise, we will be stuck in the “maputik at baluktot na daan” that may lead us to chaos and disorder.

A few good men

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: In all three branches of government – executive, legislative and the judiciary – there have been bad eggs that have contaminated the others. However, we must remember that there are still those who are honest in doing their job.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: We need to trust our justice system in spite of everything because if we don’t, this country of ours will be full of chaos. Besides, we still have a few good men in our courts.

Inequality is obvious

Raymar Gurrea, Bacolod City: Obviously, the justice system in this country favors only the rich and famous. Even inside the jail, iba ang kulungan ng mahirap kesa sa mayaman.

Donato Brazil, Quezon City: In our justice system, the rich and powerful are presumed innocent unless proven guilty while the poor and lowly are presumed guilty unless proven innocent.

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: Dito sa Pilipinas, ang nakikinabang lang sa hustisya ay yung mga may pangbayad at yung mga nababayaran. Kung wala kang pera, magdusa ka, kahit pulis hindi kakampi sa iyo.

Too much politics

Nestor Chan, Metro Manila: Too much politics mars the Philippine justice system.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Even if our justice system is trustworthy, it is useless. Sen. Lacson was right in saying that our justice system cannot be trusted due to executive and legislative intervention.

The system, yes, but people, no

Arthur Gimena, Metro Manila: The system is perfectly fine. It’s the people involved that exploit and abuse the system.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: The justice system and those who comprise it are two different things. You can trust the first but, sadly, you cannot trust the second.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: I trust our judicial system, but not its members.

Gil Bangalan, Doha: I do, but the judicial system is compromised when judicial decisions are sold; when the prosecution turns into persecution; when fairness is overwhelmed by personal vindictiveness; and when emotionally ridden popular perception clouds integrity and competence. I say it is not the system that is the issue but the implementors.

Money talks

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: RP’s justice system needs a lot of improvement all the way from the prosecutor’s office to the judge’s salas to detention centers. It may not be true but the perception is that in many of these offices, money talks.

Antiquated

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Our present justice system is already antiquated and defective and unable to dispense equitable judgment. The decision of the court is based upon the credible reasoning of private legal counsels and not necessarily upon truth and righteousness.

Allot a bigger budget for the judiciary

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The most practical way to enable our justice system to maintain the people’s trust is for our government to allocate a bigger budget to increase the basic salaries, allowances and other benefits of our justices and judges so that they cannot be bribed by moneyed people.

Depends on the lawyers

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, basta magaling ang abogado.

Islamic justice works

Alton Ampang, Metro Manila: There is no other justice system that I trust the most other than the Islamic justice system.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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