| 22 December 2010
In a Manila Bulletin interview by Aris R. Ilagan on 11 Dec 2010, DOJ Secretary De Lima said that “Amid allegations of inefficiency, lack of manpower and corruption in the ranks of the judiciary, the country is not ready to adopt a Jury System patterned over the court proceedings in the United States in a bid to hasten and improve the delivery of justice to both the victim and the accused in the Philippines.”
Her reasons were:
- The Philippine judicial system’s immaturity; and
- The dissimilarity between the Filipino and American culture.
She explains further that we are clannish (ang dami nating kamag-anak); we are a very friendly people (ang dami nating barkada); and we are patronising due to our religious practices of kumare and kumpadre.
Regarding the immaturity of our country’s judicial system, is it not more of a “retarded” judicial system rather than an immature one?
We have had this same judicial system for decades upon decades but surprisingly it has not developed to protect the Filipino people. It developed backwards. In fact, this is not just “retardation”. This is “insanity”. Our learned Justices, judges and legislators are doing the same things over and over again and expect change for a better system to happen!
It is not the judicial system which is immature! It is the Filipino people who are immature and they will never mature unless they are empowered through a Jury System to administer impartial justice to everyone, including our leaders and peers.
Regarding the dissimilarity between Filipino and American Culture, are there no Filipinos in America?
Have they not brought their cultures to America? How about the Latinos, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Pakistanis, Europeans and many more? They all brought their own cultures to America. We are not the only friendly people on earth! The Italians, Poles, Chinese are as clannish as we are. The Americans of whatever origin have close family relations and different cultures. But what is common to all? A Jury System that makes them equal in the eyes of the law.
So, who is not ready for a jury system?