Hustisya

1100 Words3 Pages

In 1991, the outbreak of the news regarding the gruesome Vizconde massacre circulated in the Philippines. “On the morning of June 30, 1991, a mother and her two daughters were found slaughtered in their own home.” (De Guzman, 2008). After nineteen years, composing of numerous trials and appeals, the primary suspect, Hubert Webb, along with six others were acquitted. ‘Trial of the century’ was used by most to refer to the case due to the long process it took. A year before the suspects of the Vizconde massacre were acquitted, mass graves where found in the province of Maguindano. Until now, the trial is still on-going, and according to Harry Roque, the lawyer representing the families of the victims, “it would last more than 100 years at the present pace of the trial, by which time all the defendants would be dead.” Another infamous case remains unresolved, which is of the involvement of the 14th President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and her husband, Mike Arroyo. These popular cases, one of which almost occurred for two decades, would make anyone question the quality of the justice system the Philippines has. With the country swarming with new cases almost year-by-year, one would desire to go deeper in the context of such system. The curiosities regarding the freedom of Hubert Webb and others accused despite having various evidences and witnesses, clamors of families of innocent victims, and the thirst for justice are the reasons for the creation of such documentary. A film which is to be entitled “Hustisya”, is a documentary which focuses on the quality of justice system the Philippines has mainly based from those who worked and are still working under the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court. In order to... ... middle of paper ... ...ically, everyone, to notice the rotting and, ironically, unjust justice system that solely promotes corruption and bribery in the Philippines. It is not just a film that would be quickly forgotten, it is a rare and moving clip that would make even the most callous or apathetic person care for the nation and start to desire for change. People should not just conform to what the rich and powerful want. Everyone should start to work for development and stop being oblivious to the evident acts of dishonesty and injustices. No one should just keep silent if they are mistreated, no one should get frightened in delivering the truth, and no one should be satisfied with the kind of government our country has. “Hustisya” aims to expose the truth to the continuous “red tape” happening in the unstable and lopsided judicial processes the Philippines has forever been stuck with.

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