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| Atty. Batas Maurecio |
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble…” (Proverbs 119:165, the Holy Bible).
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“IF RP HAS HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWS, WHY THE VIOLATIONS?”: If human rights and social justice are already enshrined under the 1987 Constitution and other laws of the Philippines, how come many Filipinos are still complaining that their human rights, and the benefits that are supposed to be made available to them under social justice principles, still elude them?
This, and a host of other youthful questions, were asked of me by students of the Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila (PLM) yesterday, August 25, 2017, who listened to a lecture on “human rights and social justice” which I delivered during the “First General Assembly and Induction Ceremonies” of the PLM Rotaract Club at the Accenture Room of the PLM.
PLM Dean Annie Gallardo, in coordination with Great President Emmanuel Angeles of the PLM Rotaract Club (a youth club of the Rotary Club of Intramuros), invited me to deliver the lecture. Gallardo, like me, is a member of the Rotary Club of Intramuros, which is now headed by Great President Aries Balanay. Rotarian Ross Ching attended the lecture, too (for the photos, see www.facebook.com/attybatas).
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DISPARITY BETWEEN THE LAWS AND ACTUAL SITUATION: My answer to that question was that, while the 1987 Constitution and the Civil Code of the Philippines contain ample provisions on human rights and social justice, there is a great disparity between what the laws provide and what the people are actually undergoing even now, under the term of a president who was catapulted to the presidency on a promise of change.
I stressed that for human rights and social justice to become realities in the Philippines and in the world---where these concepts are also more honored in breach than in their fulfillment---Filipinos and the rest of mankind must strive to have the Spirit of God in them.
I argued that human rights and social justice provisions of the Constitution and the law are disregarded wantonly and egregiously everywhere in the world, particularly in the Philippines today, because mankind no longer listens to God, and no longer obeys His commands. As a result, His curses are showered upon us, one of which is suffering and death for many.
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LAWLESSNESS AMONG PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER LISTEN TO GOD: Because people no longer listen to the God and no longer obey Him, they no are no longer minded to obey the laws of the country, and are prone to disregard authorities. Because of these, they have become capable of doing even the most despicable and heinous crimes, like peddling shabu and other illegal drugs, slaughtering whole families, steal billions in government funds, and doing other serious crimes.
Indeed, because of this pervasive lawlessness
among our people, government leaders, particularly President Duterte, cannot be blamed if they resort to strong-arm tactics in dealing with this lawlessness, especially in battling the scourge of shabu and illegal drugs that proliferated unchecked in the past.
Respect for human rights and social justice, in a milieu such as this, would be the least concern in the fight to restore sanity and to cleanse the country from illegal drugs, criminal syndicates, and corruption and plundering in government. Filipinos can turn around this fight if they go back to God by reading His Bible daily, and obeying Him all the time sincerely.
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WATCH “ANG TANGING DAAN” AT FACEBOOK: “Ang Tanging Daan” is a Bible exposition and prayer session for everyone, in English and Filipino, 24/7, worldwide, that can be viewed at www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.
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