Dear Editor:

"Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly." — Deuteronomy 16:18

We, the people, have eyes that are open to see the atrocities/craziness committed by the CPP/NPA/NDF in fighting for their cause. We vehemently condemn them. However, our eyes are not closed to the atrocities/craziness committed by the government or military/police in addressing or trying to "solve" the nation's peace and order problems, such as the insurgency and drug problem, necessitating the use of ploys, such as evidence planting, "nanlaban" tales, fabled news, veiled threats, color-tagging, extrajudicial means and all. We, likewise, vehemently condemn them.

But who between the rebels and government deserve (or deserve more) to be branded as terrorists? We support and rally behind the government, of course, not the rebels and drug pushers/addicts. We just don't support and rally behind sanctioned wrongdoings.

Pray that we'll have more officials in the mold of Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, the Manila Regional Trial Court judge who recently rendered a wise and brave decision (beautifully worded) on the issue of labeling as terrorists or reds (by the government) practically just about everyone who fights for justice and who criticizes poor, inept, corrupt, murderous governance. Kudos!

Not all Filipinos who have the courage to speak against abuses are NPAs, members of the Communist Party of the Philippines or National Democratic Front, or want to overthrow the government. Only corrupt minds (with hidden agendas) will say otherwise. Be true.

The judge is a woman.

Reni M. Valenzuela
renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.comt