JUSTICE IS ILLUSORY_EXCERPT FROM PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S SONA

"We cannot move forward, if we allow the past to pull us back. Finger pointing is not the way that is why I will not waste precious time dwelling on the scenes of the past or blaming those who are perceived to be responsible to the mess that we are in and suffering from except, maybe extract a lesson or two from its errors. We will not tarry because it is the present that we are concerned with and the future that we should be prepared for. Let it not be misunderstood that, is to say clearly that those who betrayed the peoples' trust shall not go unpunished and they will have their day in court and if the evidence warrant they will have a day of reckoning too. When I decided to seek the presidency of this republic, I knew, what the ills of the country were. I knew their causes and I was briefed on those caused the causes. I heard the people on the streets complained that justice has become illusory; that equity and fairness and speedy disposition of cases had deteriorated into hallow concepts fit only for masteral dissertation. It was and is very sad indeed. As a former prosecutor I know there will always be ways of knowing how fast or how slow cases go. What I did was to look into the number of postponements and the time difference between each postponement and the next setting. It was as simple as that. I will appreciate deeply if we all in government attend to this urgent need. I was determined then and better positioned to wage war against those who make a mockery of our laws including those who make life for us all miserable. I wish to assure everyone though, that vindictiveness is not in my system just... just like you and I all we equal treat and equal protection are what I asked for all our people. But we must have the courage to fight for what we believe in and deterred by the fear of failing or losing. Indeed, courage knows no limits..cowardice does." _PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE FIRST STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 25JULY 2016