By Farah G. Decano
Akbayan’s Justice Reform Bill
I was recently asked by an international journalist for my thoughts on the new impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
My response? “No comment.”
She was surprised. “You? Suddenly no opinion?”
The truth is, I am simply exhausted. From the flood control scandals to the endless cycle of personalities evading accountability, watching the blow-by-blow of Philippine politics has become a masterclass in disappointment. Between the perceived incompetence and indolence of those in power, and the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the impeachment case of VP Sara, the flicker of hope is fading.
I am taking a respite. But this is not a surrender. This is just a momentary pause to recharge if we are to continue our fight for our country.
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Perhaps triggered by the said latest Supreme Court decision on the impeachment case of VP Sara, the Akbayan Partylist recently filed a bill, HBN 7305 aimed at improving the justice system. While the Highest Court enjoys certain exclusive prerogatives, a well crafted law by Congress is a necessary move to assist a co-equal department perform its constitutional duties.
The resulting public discussion should bring several issues to the fore such as (1) the prohibitive filing fees thus making justice a luxury for the wealthy; (2) fiscal transparency: the need for a strict liquidation of funds allocated to each court; (3) scheduling conflicts brought about by numerous number of seminars of judges and court personnel that delay hearings; (4) inadequate infrastructure, specifically the chronic lack of courtrooms; (5) lack of judges to declog the courts’ of massive dockets; and (6) the propriety of court personnel requesting funding for trips and seminars from politicians, private lawyers, and local government units.
While certain powers are constitutionally exclusive to the Supreme Court, a congressional discourse on how these powers are exercised is vital. It serves as a check against overreach, neglect, and abuse. After
all, in a true democracy, no single government branch is higher than the others.
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Since 2016, the Filipino social fabric has been strained by reductive, extremist rhetoric. Many have fallen into this manufactured chasm, lured by the deceptive simplicity of the “us vs. them” narrative.
These fallacies are an easy sell to the intellectually weary, the indifferent, and those simply looking for a quick fix to complex problems.
We see this most clearly in the proliferation of false dilemmas such as the following statements:
“If you don’t support the drug war, you must be pro-drugs.”
“If you antagonize China, you are inviting war.”
“If you support the current administration, you are an advocate for corruption.”
These statements are designed to paralyze critical thinking. By erasing the nuance between two
extremes, they deny the existence of more rational, middle-ground solutions.
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The rot has moved from logic to basic decency. We now witness Senator Robin Padilla resorting to ad hominem attacks, using a critic’s physical appearance to invalidate an argument. While the internet has long been a breeding ground for memes—likening political figures to crocodiles and Senator Marcoleta to a bulldog—there is a profound difference when a sitting legislator adopts these tactics.
When a public official uses schoolyard insults to defend a position, and the “loyalists” applaud, it reveals a crisis of character in our leadership and our masses. It is a stark reminder that our educational system needs more than just reform. It needs a complete overhaul in teaching critical thinking and ethics.