My Sympathies

Today I offer this blog entry to our fellow Filipino countrymen who were executed in China yesterday for smuggling and drug trafficking.

Their guilt or innocence is beside the issue, their execution is a lesson from which we should learn.

Generally, crimes committed within the jurisdiction of a State should be tried and punished in accordance with the laws existing at that State. Since states are sovereign in their own spheres, we have to respect whatever decisions the foreign Court render, unless under the duty of parens patriae our State enters into negotiations or invoke comity, reciprocity or jus cogens, and the punishing State grants our plea to spare our fellow countrymen who committed a violation of the law. However, such did not happen yesterday, the Chinese Government proceeded with the execution of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain.

This is a blatant reminder for us to put into action the lessons from this gained from this experience. First, as citizens, let us obey the law. Our lawmakers did not make the laws arbitrarily but they are with a specific purpose of either regulating human actions or minimizing deleterious effects brought about by our actions or both. A violation of a law oftentimes bears a corresponding penalty so that the same will become an effective social control. Dura lex, sed lex (the law may be hard, but it is the law). A discussion on the fact of their guilt or innocence is moot and academic, however, we can still do something to prevent such undesirable incident to happen again. Follow the law, observe the law, obey the law, respect the rule of law. We should start in our own country, so that when we travel abroad it will be easy for us to observe the foreign countries’ law. It is not about fearing the authorities, it is about becoming a responsible member of our polity.

Second, on the part of our government and the law enforcers, I understand the turmoil brought about by this fateful and tragic incident, so that we can use this to improve our system.  This was not the first time but hopefully this will be the last. We should strictly implement our security measures so that no contraband or violations of the law will be able to pass our jurisdiction unpunished, more so unnoticed. For several years, it is disappointing even exasperating to learn that violators have been apprehended in foreign countries but were able to pass through our securities undetected as if just walking in the park. For once, we should stop this appalling stereotype. We should implement our laws and our measures to the last possible scrutiny. The generality principle should be upheld without distinction or favor. Apply our laws to Filipinos and aliens alike, but without prejudice to our pursuit for an independent foreign policy. We are a wealthy nation, we are powerful, we are Filipinos.

            Finally, we should pray. Invoke the omnipotent power of the Almighty who is the source of all us and all of our works. Thus, I would like to end this entry with a prayer….

Dear God,

Thank you for teaching us to survive in the midst of the challenges that you are throwing at us. The tectonic movements, the tsunami, the storms, the wars and now the execution of our fellow Filipinos, thank you for making us strong and resilient.

I pray for the eternal repose of the souls of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain.

I pray for their families who are deeply grieving for the loss. May they be able gradually cope with such tragedy with the support of the community and the country. I do have relatives abroad, I do not want this to happen to them and to all Filipinos alike.

I pray that similar incidents will not happen again in the future.

I pray that the Philippines will heighten the implementation of its security measures so that at the earliest possible time, violations of the law will be detected. Offenders be punished under the laws of our land not in foreign jurisdictions which are beyond our control. Moreover, so that the innocent may have been freed and the real culprits would have been punished.

I pray that our people learn to obey, follow and respect our laws so that the Philippines will be better.

I pray that our foreign relations will remain strong, active and will be more pro people.

I pray that good conscience and good faith have impelled the execution not arbitrariness and wanton inhumanity.

I pray that the peoples of the world will one day unite and embrace brotherhood, peace and solidarity. Mushawara Mufakat.

Amen.

03/31/2011

11:48 am

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