In the movies, “fugitives from injustice”(to borrow Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson’s term) would at least spend their time on the lam by trying to dig up the truth in order to prove their innocence and bring forth the arrest of those responsible for their predicament. In this way, even if they defied the law, in the end, they would still come out on the side of justice.
Sen. Lacson however, in his over a year in hiding seemed to have done no such thing. Instead by his own admission, we learn that he simply sulked and honed his culinary skills - and to hell with justice for two murder victims and who knows how many more.
What Senator Lacson had done was to show to everyone not his innocence but his being untouchable – a man above the law who abides by it only when it is to his liking.
The flight of Sen. Lacson is not a benign act of personal defiance. It is replete with serious and even dangerous implications foremost of which is the safety of those who continue to investigate the Dacer Corbito murder case or even those remotely connected with it. The law broken in one way can be broken in other ways to frustrate investigation not just by the suspect but by other parties in interest to the crime as well.
Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima had already raised other implications such as the liabilities of those who abetted the senator’s escape by providing funds, refuge and travel documents to him. Addressing these questions is what the Justice Secretary is expected to do and Sen. Lacson should not take umbrage at her for doing her job.
The senator himself said that there is no bad blood between him and Sec. de Lima. Thus this is all the more reason for him to cooperate with her and help. He can vehemently deny any guilt but like all of us, he should realize and accept that it is not his words but deeds that are being weighed.
Senator Lacson may not really have committed a crime but clearly he has deeply gashed the integrity of the Rule of Law in our country. He owes it to the people to credibly acquit himself in this double murder case.
All photos sourced from Yahoo Image Search
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