GOD,MAN AND CRIME IN THE PHILIPPINES

GOD, MAN AND CRIME IN THE PHILIPPINES

  

   The death penalty is a very controversial issue when it is based on the conflicting views of the masses. Religious organizations in the Philippines oppose the practice of capital punishment in the country. This would be in accordance to their faith; as well as the principles it intends to influence. There exist other factions which favor the reinstatement of executions into the judicial procedures; with the assumption that fear of the law is the solution to solving crime. Spiritual leaders have questioned the reliability of capital punishment and the repercussions that follow it. According to them, if there occurred a situation wherein an executed person was mistakenly accused and discovered to be innocent; there would no longer be any means of returning the life taken. On the other hand, there are those who claim the existence of adept and talented lawyers who can manipulate the law and have supposedly guilty clients absolved of any accusations. For them, the infliction of divine justice is neither practical nor reasonable; since it is grounded on presupposed, or conjured, beliefs.

    Nothing, therefore, is socially correct for the Filipino people as they have different notions of what justice means. Those who are strongly devoted to their faith accept that karma or the Hand of God is more extreme than whatever punishment man can fashion. They are assuaged by the belief that wrongdoers will inevitably undergo such horrific condemnations, and eventually contest the morality of a death sentence. The ones who cannot easily be mollified by abstraction find this illogical. There is no veracity concerning such fabled ideas; as they argue from a logical standpoint. And by their personal sentiments; nothing short of death will appease their anguish.

    The Philippines is similar to the proverbial figure that stands with a sword in one hand, and the Bible in another. Unfortunately, the limbs that support them fail to reach a compromise, and function with mutual condemnation; because its owner suffers a dilemmic imperfection.

    Fear of the law. That must be instilled among the people in order to acquire a national sovereignty. The question is: ‘WHAT LAW; THE LAW OF GOD, OR THE LAW OF MAN?’ During the reign of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. capital punishment was enacted. So was it during the term of Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. Still, heinous crimes continue to prevail in Philippine society at present. With or without the death penalty; what matters is the audacity and wit of criminals. If they are bold and clever enough to commit a crime without being incarcerated; then they do it. Even the more inferior ones are occasionally lucky to get away with their offenses; the judicial system having its share of flaws and incompetence.

     The fervent supporters of capital punishment, however, may also criticize the procedures of faith worhsippers. It is undeniable that the latter-(while ingesting the Bible)-have come across the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments; as well as the extreme methods by which the Lord delivers His wrath upon sinners. Yet, many of Christianity’s followers continue to disobey the Holy Scriptures. Adultery, theft, blasphemy, murder, impudence; even absence from chuch: all part of social life’s downside.

    These realities, and others like it, exist because divine admonishment has not been experienced. And as much as there are followers of Christianity, not all of them profess their faith through actions. If they cannot accomplish this, influencing others will be as futile.

     Not everyone trembles when another announces possession of a big stick. That is because they may have a bigger stick; or they doubt the other person owns any.

    Considering the matter of justice in the Philippines; it is my personal opinion that there is no exact, or final, solution to the problem of crime. Because the law, whether enforced by bloodthirsty belligerents or self-righteous clergymen is never absolutely reliable. Both procedures are questionable due to the fact that they are not completely sound; and are tainted by flaws. With or without the existence of capital punishment, there is no way to efface the shortcomings and flaws of society.

    Crime gives justice meaning and purpose.

A POOR ANALOGY:

    In the morning of Septermber 12, 2001 (Philippine time), I heard radio broadcasts about an attack on the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York. Islamic terrorists took planes on a suicide mission; crashed into public edifices; and eventually caused the deaths of numerous unsuspecting individuals. Now I wonder if the followers of Muhammad’s religion truly have any fear of Allah. Surely, the Koran must teach what is good and right. If they struck in the name of their faith, then they are no different from the Jihad warriors bold enough to use the name of their god to conceal political and avaricious intentions.

    From another perspective: other than the destroyed structures in Manhattan, the Pentagon at Washington DC also was victim to the atrocities of the same faction, the same day. Taking the historical records of Hiroshima and Nagasaki into account; it is easy to assume the potential methods of retaliation which the United States is capable of. Perhaps the Afghan forces gained confidence from the fact that America lost at Korea and Vietnam; countries much inferior in comparison. Or they were fortunate enough to presume that George Bush was not man enough to emulate Harry Truman.

    Whether it was religious disobedience or improvident arrogance on the part of the aggressors, a wrong was committed…and more can/will be.