The Just Judge Saves the Innocent
by Fr Shay Cullen
The Judgment of Solomon, Nicolas Poussin, 1649
Musée du Louvre, Paris [Web Gallery of Art]
The Philippines is moving away from an era of compassion and justice to one where the innocent are targets for assassination and wrongful imprisonment on false charges. In recent weeks dozens of bodies have been found shot dead with signs pinned on the bodies, declaring them criminals deserving of death. But there was no trial, no justice. The killers have contempt for the process of justice.
Street children are sometimes set up by dru- pushers as delivery boys and are arrested and criminalized. They might be shot, too. Journalists have been declared by some high officials to be deserving of assassination. Travelers both Filipinos and foreigners have been set up with bullets and cannabis planted in their bags at Philippine airports. Unless they pay bribes on the spot, they will be charged with a crime. Now you see travelers having their bags totally wrapped in cling-plastic before checking in.
Some corrupt police and officials have no respect for the system of justice and treat it with contempt. When they frame up someone with a false charge, the good judge of integrity proves them wrong and the victim is declared innocent. The judge of integrity thwarts the corrupt with true justice and the rule of law.
One foreign visitor in Olongapo, call him Frank, was allegedly set up by a police captain who stole his expensive camera. When he demanded it back and asked for justice, he was charged by the police with child abuse and jailed without bail. He would never pay anything to have the charges dropped as he believes he is innocent. He has hope in the system of justice and is fighting for his freedom. He suffers greatly and has a rare form of diabetes and needs special insulin only available in Europe. He will surely die if he does not get it and supplies are running out.
Full post here.