ROXAS: ALABANG BOYS CASE SHOWS RP JUSTICE SCREWED-UP

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must account for a screwed-up justice system that strongly favors the rich and powerful as seen in the supposed coddling of the "Alabang Boys" by Department of Justice officials.

"Palpak ang sistema ng hustisya sa ating bansa dahil imbes na kasuhan ang maysala gaya ni Jocjoc at nitong mga Alabang Boys ay mas inuuna ng mga opisyal natin ang pangungurakot (Our justice system is not working because instead of filing charges against the likes of Jocjoc and the Alabang Boys, our officials give priority to stealing from government coffers)," Roxas said.

He said the fact that Congress needs to investigate the issue showed that even law enforcers like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) distrust the justice system.

"Nakakahiya at nakakainis na walang ginawa si Gloria para ayusin ang sistema sa walong taong nakaupo siya bilang Pangulo (It's embarrassing and so frustrating that Gloria didn't do anything to fix the system in the eight she was President)," he said. "Paano natin babaguhin ang sistema kung ang mga malalaking isda ay nakakalaya na lang basta-basta (How do we change this if the big fish get away with it)?

Roxas said the worsening of the illegal drugs problem in the country is clear proof that the criminal justice system is not working.

He noted that while supply scarcity had forced prices of shabu to skyrocket, demand for the illicit drug and the number of drug busts nationwide continued to rise based on records from government agencies.

Information from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) showed that the price of shabu soared to P70,000 to P80,00 per 25 grams, or known as "bulto" in local street terms, last year following the seizure last May of 770 kilograms of the drug, estimated to be worth P4.6 billion, at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.