DURA LEX, SED LEX

By Bayawanon

Former Brazilian Catholic Archbishop Dom Elder Camara was famous in his words which I quote, " When I gave foods to the poor, I was called as a saint, but when I questioned the government why are these people remain poor, I was called as a communist". It seems like it is also happening now here in the Philippine Islands, for when someone questions the DRUG WAR of the president to be not consonant with the Constitution, he or she would be branded as an ADDICT for having sided with the drug users and pushers.

Such kind of an argument is so flimsy, illogical and an insult to the intelligence of an average mind, for questioning the government in its illicit ways in eliminating drugs is not immoral but in line with the moral duty of anyone to correct what is wrong.

I'm in favor of the DRUG WAR since drugs destroy the moral fiber of the society, but I'm not in favor the way it is being handled in the country right now. Why not fight drugs in line with the laws of the land? Why not combat drugs in congruence to the Constitution?

We are living in a government of laws and not of men, so why not laws and reasons reign over the perceptions of many which are not corollary to the laws of the land? Disrespecting the laws of the land is purely and simply a mockery of justice, hence DRUG WAR not in line with the laws of the state is a disrespect to the laws itself, and logically would constitute a mockery of justice.

Will we let our country be led by the mockers of justice or will we let the rule of law reign in our midst? As a concerned citizen of this country, you have all the faculties to discern what is good from evil, and you have the decision which you would prefer.

Laws were/are created so that there could be order in the society, why not the government authorities who are implementing the same cannot follow it? Are they simply ignorant of the law or are the simply intentionally, flagrantly violating it? They must follow the law, for "DURA LEX SED LEX", or THE LAW IS HARD, BUT IT IS THE LAW.