“I will only come out when justice is rightly served, or when I’m already dead. It may not be the best way to spend geezerhood, but unless you get me ahead of my time, I prefer to suffer in pain but with dignity, sitting alone with my conscience for the rest of my life, rather than do time in jail for a crime I did not commit.”
Lacson’s case is another graphic example of how the Philippine military establishment treats one of its own. To them there are two systems of justice – one for them and the rest are dead meat especially if you happen to ‘oppose’ the government.
So much so that the four daughters of Dacer who now live in California after their father’s murder have to look to U. S. courts for justice. In Sept., they filed a $120-million civil suit against former President Estrada, Lacson and several others for the death and torture of their father. They use a centuries-old and little known U.S. law that allows U.S. residents to sue for crimes committed outside the U.S. That law is called the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victims Protection Act.
Remember that Lacson used to be the top cop under deposed President Joseph Estrada and is not the only one that has been accused of crimes. Remember how they treated Col. Gregorio Honasan? He was ‘captured’ but was imprisoned on a cruise ship until his ‘daring’ escape. And then he became a senator just like Lac-son, or the infamous ‘berdugo’, Col. Palparan, who now sits as a Congressman. Yes, indeed I can still remember how then Chief of Staff Gen. Fidel Ramos ‘punished’ the army plotters who mounted the first coup attempt on Pres. Corazon Aquino. They were made to make thirty push-ups! For sure justice works very differently in the Philippines.
If you happen to be a ‘rebel’ or a ‘terrorist’ or alleged to have supported these labels, then you’re a dead duck! No questions asked – dead, kaput! The military and its cohorts acts as judge and executioner. You are judged to have broken the law and deserve to die without going through any semblance of a justice system.
Most of the Maguindanao Massacre suspects are still on the lam after a year and why? They’re all military operatives who worked as the private army of political warlords like the Ampatuans who can deliver the votes during elections. Just examine the reports and condemnations of human rights groups and judge for yourself. Clearly, the military, like most so-called democracies in the world rules the Philippines and they, not the civilian authorities, (pardon the pun) calls the shot!
Comments: tedalcuitas@gmail.com
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