Justice can’t be crowd-sourced

Justice can’t be crowd-sourced | Daily Tribune

There was a time when justice had a familiar rhythm — complaints were filed, evidence was examined, witnesses were questioned, and institutions were allowed to work.

Today, that rhythm is being drowned out by a new, noisier beat. And nothing illustrates this shift better than the latest video of Zaldy Co, released from somewhere abroad, making sweeping allegations against the President while conveniently avoiding the very issues he has yet to answer for.

In the past, those accused of corruption confronted the process: they submitted counter-affidavits, faced investigators, and allowed the facts to speak. But justice, in this strange new era, is being redefined not by truth or accountability but by the power of distraction. A phone, a signal, and a social media account have become tools not for enlightenment, but for evasion.

What we saw in Zaldy Co’s video was not a courageous exposé. It was an attempt to change the topic. Instead of addressing the allegations regarding flood control irregularities — allegations supported by documents, sworn statements, and ongoing investigations — he cast his gaze elsewhere, hoping the public would follow. It is a tactic as old as politics itself: when cornered, point to another corner.

But Filipinos must recognize the pattern. The noise is deliberate. The controversy is engineered. The goal is simple: steer public attention away from the issue at hand.

And that is precisely why we need to focus.

The real problem before us is clear: billions of pesos intended for flood control projects appear to have been diverted, misused, and manipulated. Lives were lost, communities were flooded, and public trust was shaken. The solution, equally clear, lies in allowing the investigators to complete their work, allowing evidence to be presented, and allowing accountability to fall where it must.

Justice cannot be crowd-sourced. It cannot be determined by the number of likes on a video or the volume of online chatter. Justice requires discipline — by institutions and by the public. It requires clarity of purpose. It requires the courage to resist the spectacle.

We should not be sidetracked by a narrative that was never meant to inform, but to deflect. The allegations against Zaldy Co remain unanswered. His absence from the jurisdiction remains unexplained. And his sudden shift to political accusations should be read for what it is: an attempt to turn the hunter into the hunted.

Let us stay with the truth. Let us follow the evidence. Let us keep our eyes on the work that matters.

In this moment of noise, focus is justice.