Barely had the justice system scored points with the recent acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima on the second of three drug charges against her that we see another major setback in creating a culture of accountability and transparency in this country.

We’re referring to the case of pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles who once again sparked controversy after she was cleared of 16 graft charges and convicted in two.

Napoles, a prominent figure in the country’s political landscape, was accused of orchestrating one of the largest corruption scandals in Philippine history. The acquittal, as expected raised eyebrows and stirred public outrage due to concerns about the integrity of the judicial process.

While the courts pointed to insufficiency of evidence in the prosecutors’ failure to pin down the culprits, nobody seems to be buying the decision.

Many argue that the decision highlights systemic flaws, including corruption and political influence that undermine the pursuit of justice in this country. Critics point to allegations of witness tampering, and the potential manipulation of the legal system as possible reasons for the controversial verdict.

They can be right. And we can’t blame them. This nation has a long history of injustices that nobody seems to believe the system anymore. Napoles’ acquittal only reinforces the perception that powerful individuals can evade accountability for their actions. It smacks of impunity.

Remember when thousands of disgruntled citizens assembled in protest against the involvement of well-known politicians, worse of all, lawmakers, in the pork barrel scam and made their sentiments known through a public rally? It was an outcry worth looking into.

But we never seem to learn. Or have we grown tired of it all? One by one, the lawmakers who have been sent to jail on account of the Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal have all gone scot-free, and worse, elected anew to the Senate.

The perception that crime does pay has eroded public trust in the justice system. It has also exacerbated an already existing skepticism towards the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.

Public reaction to the acquittal has been overwhelmingly negative with netizens expressing their anger and disappointment to what they see as another travesty of justice.

Without a doubt, the verdict is a huge setback for the government’s anti-corruption efforts. It has also undermined the faith of the people in the justice system’s ability to hold the powerful accountable.

Moreover, Napoles’ acquittal further widens the divide between the privileged elite and the general population. It reinforces the belief that the wealthy and influential can manipulate the system to their advantage while ordinary citizens are left to bear the consequences of corruption.

This sense of inequality and injustice, we believe, could contribute to social unrest and erode social cohesion. And what’s sad about it is that the acquittal could discourage potential whistle-blowers and witnesses from coming forward for fear of retaliation or lack of protection.

It could also send a disheartening message to anti-corruption advocates and civil society organizations trying to dismantle deeply entrenched networks of corruption. It also raises questions about the government’s commitment to genuine reform.

To regain public trust and credibility, the Philippine justice system must address the concerns surrounding Napoles’ acquittal transparently. Reforms should be implemented to strengthen the independence and integrity of the judiciary and ensure that justice is served without bias.

There’s no use adhering to that symbol of a blindfolded woman with a scroll or sword in one hand and scales in the other if we can’t hold on to its significance.

We might as well remove the blindfold if we can’t be fair.

e-mail: [email protected]