How fair is justice dispensation these days?

WHO says that the laws that operationalize the Justice system in our country are fair to everybody -- be they rich or poor; the ignorant and well-educated, the weak and the powerful? That they are at more times just fallacies.

The poor do not have the means to access those who are to help them get justice for any omission charged to have been done by them. The rich have all what it takes to reach those who they think can give them services that will either dodge any crime attributed to them or their relatives. The ignorant often do things they do not know are crimes against society. The well-educated commit crimes or infractions of the law even if they are aware of it because they know how to find the way out.

On the other hand, the weak usually surrender easily to the so-called fate that befalls them. The powerful summons all the strength available and pulls every connection there is just to wiggle out of his responsibility.

Look at how suspected mastermind in the attack and killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others inside the compound of his residence. The suspected mastermind, a congressman of the province’s third district, even circulated through social media his gutsy statement denying any involvement while in hiding in the United States. In his denial statement purposely videoed, the suspected mastermind even boastfully challenged the slain governor before his death that they settle their enmity by only the two of them in any place they will come to agree.

Further, the suspected brains proudly claimed that he knows what the governor was up to claiming one of those in Degamo’s inner circle is his own loyal man who keeps him informed of the governor’s every activity.

And because of his money and connections the suspected mastermind in the Degamo killing was immediately able to assemble the country’s top criminal lawyers who so literally believe that anyone charged of a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a competent court – even if they know by heart that his or their client/s are the real criminals.

In the local front, who would not want to remember the case of a medical doctor working with the Police accused of killing a 19-year-old student from Region 12 in the vicinity of a bar in downtown Davao City. Besides being a doctor non-uniformed personnel of the PNP, the

The suspect, now the accused, was initially charged of murder based on the circumstances and testimonies of witnesses. But there is no doubt the suspect pulled every string there is if only to have the charge degraded to simple homicide. And degraded it was, courtesy of the prosecutor’s evaluation of the case. So, instead of continuously being detained without bail because of a murder case, the doctor accused was able to put up bail meanwhile that the trial of his case is still pending, perhaps possibly even put on hold, while waiting for the resolution of an appeal made by the family of the victim.

Then here comes this latest incident in Davao City, one crime that investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation and a select group of policemen, called it a “crime of passion.” alleged triggermen as the mastermind in the killing of paramour.

Instead of being incarcerated in a civilian jail the suspected brains is being “held” reportedly in the Army barracks. The better thing in this situation though is that the suspected mastermind in that particular “crime of passion” will reportedly be subjected to a Court Martial proceeding. Whether the Court Martial process will result only to a positive resolution as to his administrative responsibilities, or will it also be providing the needed inputs to the fair resolution of the murder case in the civilian court, so far we have no idea. In fact no one is made aware whether the Court Martial process is already underway.

Indeed justice is for all. But as to the kind of justice that is heap for the ordinary man and those for the advantaged, it purely is relative depending on the status in society of those seeking for it.