| 16 March 2011
The Philippine Jury International (renamed as Philippine Jury Initiative) held its first open forum about Good Governance and the Jury System on 20 February 2011 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish Hall in Frimley, Camberley, Surrey. The two objectives of the forum were: To propose to the Filipinos that the Jury System is a major solution to the worsening graft and corruption gripping our country and to call on to the Overseas Filipinos to provide the momentum in forcing a change on our rotten and flawed judicial system.
The ‘People Power Revolution’ twenty five years ago that toppled President Marcos did not succeed in bringing down graft and corruption because the people did not know what to replace the system with. Although we toppled Marcos, we replaced him with the same type of politicians and kept the same flawed judicial system that breeds corrupt leaders. This is due to the fact that there is no effective mechanism in our Constitution that would serve as a check and balance to the power of our erring political leaders.
So now, twenty five years hence, faced with gruesome events paraded on the media every day, the Filipinos have no choice but to grin and bear these atrocities in silence. Even Col. Rabusa hopes that the people will forgive him because he is part of the rotten system. The adoption of a Jury System consisting of a GRAND JURY and a TRIAL JURY in our Constitution would provide this check and balance. For in depth analysis of the need for a Jury System, please visit also the-filipino-people.com.
The Filipinos here in UK experience the effects of the Jury System that is the fundamental principle behind the British judicial system. We know how swift the system has acted on the MPs involved in the recent expenses scandal. Two of them were found guilty and were given prison sentences of up to two years. They were not put on house arrest; they were imprisoned! The rest resigned. Could this have happened in the Philippines?
Because we are the enlightened people and we know that jury system works, we should be the catalysts for change and keep the momentum for change going.
The Overseas Filipinos here and elsewhere in the world prop up our present flawed system through their remittances. So why should they not demand for a better value for money. They have political and economic power to put a stop to the downward spiral of their country. All they need now is unity and political will to succeed in their demand for the adoption of the Jury System.
In conclusion, speaker_ Daisy Brett-Holt, chair of Philippine Jury International, said that Good Governance could only be sustained by a Jury System embedded in our Constitution. The Philippine Embassy was represented by Minister & Consul Marshall Louis Alferez who gave a very inspiring talk about our task ahead.