What Kind of Legal System Do We Have in the Philippines?

Reading about the case of Governor Leviste’s obvious privileges, a convicted killer and inmate at the Bilibid Prisons in Manila, and who made a mockery of the legal system in the Philippines, made me and many Filipinos so angry and furious.

In the first place, what kind of legal system do we have in the Philippines? I could not believe and imagine that some inmates, though how notorious their case maybe, as in the case of Mr. Leviste, are given free lunch and so much privileges. Never in my imagination have I heard an inmate who is given what they call ‘living out’ or ‘sleep out’ privileges. According to the news report, this has been a practice going back to the past administrations. My question is, has the prison system in the Philippines changed into a hotel for inmates? To my understanding, a prison is a place where you confine criminals even against their will as a punishment for committing criminal acts, and/or violating the laws of the land.

But let’s take the case of Mr. Leviste. Leviste has been found to have committed murder. For this, he was sent into Prison at the Bilibid Prisons in Manila. A few days ago, somebody was able to take a picture and video of him going in and out of the Bilibid prisons. When the Media finally caught up and interviewed Mr. Leviste and asked how he was able to go in and out of the Bilibid Prisons, he said that he did not ask anyone for permission. He made this alibi of walking out from the Bilibid Prison because he had a terrible toothache and had a Dentist appointment. Upon further investigation, however, it was not true that he had any dentist appointment that day as Mr. Leviste claimed earlier. His claim was disputed by his dentist. However, the issue here is: How did an inmate like Mr. Leviste got in and out of the Bilibid Prison? Does the Prison system in the Philippines so lax that any inmate could just walk in and out of the prison compound as they please? Or, did Mr. Leviste got in and out of the prison because he was given “special privileges” by the prison officials? Was this “special privileges” given to all the inmates, or given only to some who are rich and powerful like Mr. Leviste? Does the new bilibid prison chief Mr. Ernesto Diokno know about this practice? The truth is, in the Philippine Inquirer Today (May 25, 2011), Mr. Ernesto Diokno acknowledged of dropping the ball on the issue of “special privileges” on some inmates. During a hearing conducted by the Department of Justice on Wednesday, Diokno told investigators that he had noticed that “special privileges” were being doled out to some inmates, particularly those allowed in separate facilities (“nipa huts”) outside the minimum security compound. But Diokno denied that he had anything to do with the unauthorized trips of the convicted killer, Mr. Antonio Leviste. And then he said that “he was only concerned with policies.”

Let us scrutinize this case at issue. In the first place, who said so that there should be “special privileges” extended to any inmate at the bilibid prison? There is nothing in the constitution or any law of the land that mandates or gives orders that some inmates or prisoners be given “special privileges.” Therefore, whoever initiated this practice should be immediately investigated and sacked out from their office. Second, We would earnestly recommend that Mr. Diokno, the head of the bilibid prison be removed immediately from his office. Mr. Diokno, don’t tell us that your only concerned is about policies. You are the chief of the Bilibid prisons. Whatever happens at the Bilibid Prisons is your responsibility. Do you know the meaning of “command responsibility,”Mr. Diokno?

With the case of Mr. Leviste, I think it is time for the President to make an overhaul of the Prison system in the Philippines. We need new policies and new restructuring of the prison system. I recommend that all the current officials, from the chief of the bilibid prisons down to the lowest level, be immediately sacked from their jobs. What happened in the case of Mr. Leviste was a mockery of the legal system. Also, it brings to fore once again the recurring problem in the country – which is corruption in government. It is time for the President to show to everyone that he really means business when he says that fighting corruption is his number one priority. Likewise, the legal system should be an institution whereby we can depend and trust. Hence, everyone should be treated with fairness and justice by the law. Our laws are meant not only for the rich and powerful like Mr. Leviste, but for everyone even like Mang Pandoy. Therefore, everyone should be treated fairly and squarely. Otherwise, people will lose their faith on our legal system. If that happens, a revolt from the people may deem again possible.