Roberto Panganiban Castro. Ferdinand Bernard Antonio. Benjamin Manalo Nicdao Jr. Bernardo Lapaan Jr. Noel Olaes Miranda. Juan Marza Layva. Aguilando Baltazar. Olga Gonzalez. Teresita Umayao. Isagani Pastor.
You’ll probably forget those names not five minutes after you’ve read them. But that isn’t what they deserve. These were people killed by people who wanted money that wasn’t theirs and who didn’t want anyone getting in their way or maybe screwing up their enjoyment of the money they stole.
Everyone agrees that these 10 people deserve justice. Of course they do. But what good is justice for them now? What good is justice for their families? And besides, what justice?
The President has ordered that the killers should, as Lorelei Fajardo put it, be brought to the bar of justice. Excellent soundbite, which is about all it is, because if you were to really bite into those nice words, you would find no meat, no substance. Just air.
How many times have we heard it said that this or that killer will be brought before the bar of justice? And yet the list of the unavenged grows longer everyday, while the list of those who have been actually held to account grows – if at all – only at a snail’s pace. The words disconnect with reality.
I’m sure the President meant it; who wouldn’t? But there is a difference between wanting something to happen – such as wanting to bring murderers to justice for instance – and that thing actually happening. And so it is particularly galling when the President “vows” to bring justice when she must know that her government has so far had a dismal record in that department. It just rings too hollow, Madame. And it tastes like ashes on our tongues.
Far better, I think, for everyone whose appointed duty it is to protect the lives of Filipinos, to just hang their heads in shame. Their mortification will mean much more than empty condolences and fist-shaking vows of righteous vengeance.
In the meantime, add these names to the list of the unavenged.
Roberto Panganiban Castro. Ferdinand Bernard Antonio. Benjamin Manalo Nicdao Jr. Bernardo Lapaan Jr. Noel Olaes Miranda. Juan Marza Layva. Aguilando Baltazar. Olga Gonzalez. Teresita Umayao. Isagani Pastor.
Tags: bank robbery, Laguna, massacre
This country has already become the wild west. Trust me Rom, justice is not going to be with this administration. As heinous a crime this is, this is what justice has become during the Arroyo Administration. These 10 individuals are just among hundreds who have found death, outside of the courts.
It’s not sad anymore, it just adds on to the anger now…
Lip service, you are exactly right on that point.
The point being?
Take any murder, take any crime, blame it all on GMA?
Lip service, fine, but do we really have to go down to the level of politicians who just love pigging around in the mud?
Is that what the “politically enlightened” people have become?
The crimes, done without compunction and extreme violence you pointed out, are practically an offshot of poverty – though it should not be the reason for our countrymen to do. When our government miserably failed to help and continuously provide education or guidance for our poor and poorest countrymen ten years ago while at their younger age and they have no opportunity whatsoever of being employed, this is what we reaped. The next generation and generations to come would follow the same path unless we and our government should correct it from hereon. No amount of police and military force, unless will garrison the entire country, could totally eliminate such situation.
@Jon, I do admit this might seem like a bit too much rhetoric, and in fact, as a politician, I wouldn’t expect anything else to come out of Arroyo’s mouth. I guess, the point is being made, that she has no moral authority when it comes to this case. Nothing more.
After all is said and done, this is a human rights issue.
The question has to be asked, who has the right to take a life? Who has that moral authority? An eye for an eye, everyone goes blind (ghandi)
Bernardo Lapaan Jr. one of the victims Just Graduated with a degree Bachelor of Laws last March.The dream of this young man was immediately put into an end by demons on earth who doesnt have the right to live anymore.His plan is to have a leave at RCBC for 4 months so that he can concentrate reviewing for the coming Bar Exam on September.Too bad its too late for him to do everything that he dreams and plans for his family.His whole life was devoted in serving RCBC which is the cause of his death, he is not a soldier but he died with a gun.He served RCBC for twenty years, and its very sad to think that his job which he is earning for a living would also cause him his death.SUSPECTS SHOULD BE TURNDOVER TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS,WE WILL SLOWLY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE.
SUSPECTS SHOULD BE TURNDOVER TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS,WE WILL SLOWLY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE.
THAT IS JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[...] of my esteemed co-bloggers here at Filipino Voices have already expressed their opinion (in Rom’s case, her anguish), and this part from Atty. Butch’s post caught my interest: I’m certain the RCBC [...]
Nick,
Agreed, she has no right to even utter the word justice. Unfortunately, it’s part of her job.
—-
Before we take this discussion to another “it’s because of poverty and it’s because of the government” rhetoric, let’s analyze what happened.
If you’re poor, and you wanna be rich, you take the money. No need to kill anyone.
If you’re taking the money, and you need to kill someone to be able to take, it’s either because
a) that person prevented you from taking it and thus were obstacles that had to be eliminated
b) those persons can easily identify you for some reason
Something to think about. Poverty doesn’t create maniacs. Something else does.
[...] What Justice? by Rom [...]
JL, i think its not as simple as taking the money, run and hide for those poverty stricken persons perpetrating these crimes. they are not the old types small time robbers and thieves.
if we profile those people – the poorest of our society – living in shanties no better than a rat hole or the ghettos in Bronx NY, after so many years of neglect (lack of education, food, house), abuse/exploitation (political votes, constant zoning), exposure to so many crimes in their area and even having no religion (most dont go to church except when there’s free food distribution), we can say that they psychologically and emotionally imbalanced. the personality outcome would be ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness. with large proportion of our population (30% or more – 27M) classified as poorest to poor, we can expect this will continue for many years. of course, not all of them.
what’s the solution therefore? well, the government can imprison them all but its too shallow solution. if they do not have proper education or trainings, who will employ them? the government has to sincerely address this worsening poverty.
im the eldest daughter of bernard. i had just read this post and also the comments. thanks to all of you. let us all continue praying for their peace and for justice.
thank you.
it is now time to consider capital punishment as crime rate in our country rises again. our lawmakers must present laws more favoring victims of crime coz they can not talk anymore. suspects must stay in jail without bail until they are not cleared.
in progressive middle east countries there are no gruesome killings like this, so maybe this time we can adopt their laws regarding crimes of this nature.
i also giving my regards to vacc and other organizations defending the rights of the victims of heineous crimes.
thanx for reading my comments.
@jilley, much condolence to you and your family. What we are doing here, may not be enough, but we are trying our best to make sense out of this senseless incident..
I have visited your Multiply page, and it is definitely a sad time for you.. I too lost my father a few years back, and while the scenarios may be different, I feel the pain of losing a father figure..
Your strength is needed, I know, but let the pain come through, you owe it to yourself..
majority of the crimes that i hear about in the philippines are either done by muslim extrimists or security guards, ex security guards, ex police, ex soldier etc. our country is really unstable because we don’t know who to trust now. the very people responsible for our safety are the ones jeopardizing it. i think responsible citizens should own guns while the country is this unstable. had these people in the bank held their own weapon, they would not have died lined up like some captive in a concentration camp.
i think these criminals should be thrown in a lions den or fed to wild animals then whatever is left of them should be thrown in the trash. they do not deserve proper burial. their memories should be burned and wiped out from the face of the earth sparing nothing because the next generation does not need the burden of knowing these bastards.
pardon me for my posts, i was overcomed by my emotion