#LawIsLaw?

by HANSEN

Uncertainty — the one word that can most accurately encapsulate the feelings of every Filipino citizen waiting for concrete actions from their government.

“Stay at home and observe social distancing when going out of your house — anytime, anywhere, and regardless of your social status.” The Philippine National Police led the Filipinos to believe that the supposed adherence of every citizen regardless of social status to quarantine protocols is the key to flattening the curve. After all, #LawIsLaw right?

Just weeks into the imposition of quarantine, the first incident that sparked controversy to the supposed #LawIsLaw enraged citizens as Senator Koko Pimentel blatantly violated quarantine guidelines, potentially endangering several medical staff of the Makati Medical City. Although he was heavily criticized online, no punishment was given to him as the Department of Justice appealed to respond to the case with “compassion”.

On the contrary, countless protesters have been quickly apprehended and charged under the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases (2019) and the Public Assembly Act, despite the fact that these laws do not prohibit protests and rallies. Furthermore, these citizens were following social distancing guidelines and were wearing masks.

The cases in which double standards are seemingly present do not end here. The chief of the National Capital Region Police Office Debold Sinas was also slammed for his mañanita birthday celebration which violated quarantine measures. Although a criminal case was filed against him along with the other senior police officials who attended the gathering, the alleged charges were not specified nor followed up.

There is no denying that there is a clear discrepancy on how these cases were handled. Officials with high power seem to have impunity whereas normal lawabiding citizens immediately face incarceration. The existence of double standards in this context is only a manifestation of the divide among social classes where the powerful are once again above the masses.

It is no surprise that many are enraged when news like these are reported, but taking the public’s sentiments to social media only proves to be a false catalyst in resolving issues like this. Several officials get away with unjust impunity as issues like these always tend to “die down” at some point. The problem here is that further negligence from the side of the Filipinos only empowers the government to continue committing acts like these.

Throughout the entire quarantine, it has become unclear as to who and what the priorities of the government are. It is time that we Filipinos rise to the occasion and wake up from the conspicuous blindsiding happening right in front of our eyes. After all, a system which favors its leaders over its constituents is a system bound to fail.