Court of Appeals favors drug offenders
THE COURT of Appeals has been on an acquittal spree for several months now.
Curiously, but not surprisingly, the beneficiaries of the appellate court’s acquittal binge are people convicted by the lower courts of drug pushing and trafficking.
In short, those who have money to buy their freedom.
My mole in the Court of Appeals says more than 100 drug convicts at the National Penitentiary have been released after they were acquitted by the court.
One wonders how much money changed hands—tens or hundreds of millions?
With that much money, some Court of Appeals justices will be retiring in maximum comfort.
* * *
If there are many Court of Appeals justices on the take, you can imagine how many municipal and regional trial court judges are corrupt.
If the judiciary’s “second layer” cream of the crop—the Supreme Court magistrates being in the first layer—can be bought, what do you expect from the lesser magistrates?
The assumption that justice in the country favors the rich is true.
How can a poor litigant buy a judge or justices hearing his case if he doesn’t have the money?
* * *
What’s the use of an aspiring lawyer topping the bar examinations if court trials are not heard on the merits, but depending on how much money is on the table?
It’s surprising there are still so many law graduates taking the bar when knowledge of the law is not as important as knowing how to connect with the judges or justices handling one’s criminal or civil case.
* * *
Government investigators, be warned: If you go beyond the bounds of your subject’s patience, you might end up in the Great Beyond.
A government tax collector was shot dead recently in a town outside Metro Manila because he was allegedly demanding a very big bribe from taxpayers.
The same thing happened months ago to a corrupt land registration officer in a province adjoining Metro Manila.
Their replacements are now more accommodating.
* * *
The wife and daughter of a national official are always buying expensive jewelry from a well-known shop in Makati City, according to a source.
Mother and daughter are also on a buying spree of real estate.
The wife is a former government official; the daughter is also in government.
It really pays to work in government.
* * *
The driver of a silver Toyota Hi-Ace, with plate number BOY 80, recently went against the flow of traffic on Roxas Boulevard in Manila with siren blaring.
He was escorted by a motorcycle cop and a police patrol car.
LTO records show the owner of the vehicle is Obdulia Calumarde of 1 Emerald St., Goldhill Homes, Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City.
President Noy said in his inaugural speech at Rizal Park that vehicles using sirens to get ahead in traffic would be things of the past.
“Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow (No more siren, no more counterflow),” said the new President.
Who is this Obdulia Calumarde that she can violate P-Noy’s directive?
