On Filing Cases
StartFragmentLet us have this final word on the issue of filing cases against Leni Robredo and her cohorts.
We agree with you a hundred and one percent that things are getting a bit frustrating here in social media and, human beings as we are, we are also running out of patience. But we have to realize that there is more than meets the eye than simply hauling our asses to court and filing cases. An in-depth analysis of our rather unfortunate predicament necessitates that we be pragmatic in our approach and be grounded in political reality.
How many of you have tried filing criminal cases against government officials in this country? What is the success rate? The batting average? With the way things are right now (sadly very little has changed with regard to the Philippine justice system), filing cases indiscriminately without the requisite variables will only result in two possibilities: either the cases we file will be relegated to the trash bin or, they will be made to gather dust.
What variables are we talking about? Evidence? Nah. The truth may be too blatant yet it could literally take years or even decades before the courts come up with a resolution (take for instance the Maguindanao massacre - the elder Ampatuan is already dead yet the case is still pending). You may have the strongest case, say the PDAF scandal, where there is incontrovertible proof of corruption, yet the cases filed are nowhere near some sort of resolution.
Why? The resolution of these cases are mostly hinged on one very important factor: leverage. What kind of leverage? Could be money, political pressure, influence, anything that could practically oil the machine so the wheels will start turning. During Noynoy's time and sadly even until now, filing cases are used as political leverage to gain certain concessions from the accused.
You dangle the prospect of a criminal case against a particular set of legislators, and you get their unwavering support to your agenda in return. In other words you threaten them with cases, and they'll prioritize your pet bills. You threaten these yellow destabilizers with possible jail time, ie Drilon et al, and you can literally buy their cooperation and silence. You fight fire with fire.
This is the reason why we keep underlining the need for us to organize. Cases will seldom prosper without political pressure. And we need to gain ourselves some sort of leverage if we really want to succeed. The judiciary may keep harping about judicial independence yet it is a no-brainer that our courts are highly political. Even the Supreme Court is blatantly political, with justices voting along political lines and persuasions.
Unfortunate as it may seem, sadly this is the reality. Organizing ourselves into one cohesive front will give us the necessary political leverage. With the collective power of millions breathing down their necks, we make our proposition solidly clear and difficult to ignore.
Leverage folks. Let's give them an offer they can't refuse.
It's the only way to win. It's the only way to go.
