Organised crime gang operating in Negros oriental

Sorry it's not like at home. Here in the PI the affected individual (or surviving family) have to file charges. The state will not pursue any charges on their own without a victim first filing charges (and paying off the local cops to investigate) for the alleged crime. That's why blood money here is so pervasive in cases of murder either intentional or accidental. If enough money is paid to the victims family then they refuse to press charges and any criminal case disappears as if it never existed (which it didn't since no family member filed charges). See how this works... Insidiously clever and devious! If any questions or you want a better explanation PM me with any questions and I will try to answer as best as I can. Oh and by the way if the blood money is not enough and they file charges but they are killed before the court case concludes guess what happens? The case is dismissed because there is no victim to pursue the case! How do ya like them apples!

 

It goes further than that Dave. My partner's brother was murdered by two junkies. It was witnessed by someone and the junkies were arrested by the police. The 2 junkies were brought to her brother's hospital room ( he bled out later due to internal trauma) and they were positively identified by him. This happened over 8 years ago. Up until 18 months ago when the junkies pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of homicide as distinct from the original charge of murder, there were a large number of court hearings to get evidence and just in the incredibly inefficient system in the Filipino courts.

For each court hearing my partner paid for the lawyer for the offence, the day's salary for the 2 police officers who had to give evidence and also the witness. The cost of keeping the "complaint" going was huge but my partner has income from various businesses she runs and was/is determined for justice for her brother. The family of one of the boys approached my partner many times early in the process offering amounts of money to withdraw the complaint - which would have ended the case against the 2 murderers.

Since they have pleaded guilty, sentencing has yet to take place. My partner is told that the costs she paid of her taking on the action is then a debt to the families of the 2 murderers and she had to provide this detailed listing to the court 18 months ago - nothing has been received as yet but if it arrives it will go to the brother's 2 kids.

Before the murderers could plead guilty to the lesser charge, the complaint needed to be changed by my partner. She did so because after over 6 years in a Filipino jail these 2 guys who were late 20 year olds looked like they were late 40 year olds and she felt that they were likely to die in jail even with lesser sentence.

In my country, Australia, we complain about our legal system and the time to see justice. I have come to realise we are blessed in comparison.


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I agree it can be very frustrating for a foreigner to deal with but this is the system the locals set up to deal with these situations and as much as we may dislike/disagree with it, It is their country and their system of Justice (term used very loosely). The locals have a saying about foreigners here who complain about the PI, it's laws, customs or anything else for that matter. "If you don't like it you can always leave" as in we have passports and money and can go anytime we want to. Nothing is keeping us here unlike themselves. Many locals would like to leave and go overseas in search of a better life for themselves and their families but due to poverty or lack of education/skills, family commitments, criminal record (even at the Barangay level) or whatever they cannot leave so they are forced to work within the system. They realize how messed up it is but they cannot change it or leave as easily as we can so they learn to live with it and work within the parameters they have to work with. Ask your partner. If you have a strong relationship she will explain this in more detail. It baffles logic but it is what it is... Their country and their laws! We are visitors here!

 

"When will the people learn here to stand up to this bullshit ?????
NEVER !

 

Please don't misunderstand. I was not making the statement to you personally. I was trying to explain what the locals think/feel about some foreigners here. They enjoy when we come here and spend money and employ locals as we are contributing to their economy. But, they hate to hear any foreigner complain about how anything here works (or doesn't) they are already intimately familiar with the inadequacies their country has and don't want or need to hear a foreigner complain about it to them. That is why I said any foreigner here who has a strong relationship with a local can ask them to explain it to them. I don't pretend to know everything by any stretch but I am familiar with how the locals think and why. The murder of your partners brother is a tragedy and I hope your partner, her family and yourself finally see justice done to the miscreants who perpetrated the horrible offense. It is not unusual for the process to take up to 12 years though so it was probably a wise decision for your partner to modify the complaint to finally see an end to the criminal justice system towards the perpetrators of her brothers murder. May the offenders rot in jail for the entire lives. A similar experience happened with my first family and I know first hand how frustrating this whole process is. I hope it ends soon for you and your family! In my first families case the perpetrator is in Prison in Manila in Reclusion Perpetua (life in prison with no possible parole).

 

Yes Davy the justice system in the Philippines does suck and everyone (including Filipinos) knows it.

I think what Dave is saying is summarized in the words he uses, "It is what it is" and whilst all may not like it, at least we foreigners have options to leave and live somewhere else, that is not available to the average Filipino. Notwithstanding this experience (and a number of other unpalatable issues) I am eagerly looking forward to my move to Dumaguete next month. Sure my partner has a lot to do with that but also there are many unpalatable issues here in Sydney, Australia. Without doubt it is a most beautiful city and country but the values of the people has changed - probably as they have become wealthier and probably because they want to become even wealthier...

I have been very privileged here but I find that there is a general honesty and wholesomeness in the Filipinos which has long left Australia. Maybe in a few years I might regret that statement but for now it is the dream I am perusing.