21st Century Literature - Philippine Justice System

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Questions and Answers

Match the following symbols with their meaning.

Blindfold = Impartiality Golden pair of scales = Balance Double-edged sword = Power Thoth's feather of truth = Truth Painting "Is this Philippines Justice?" with Justitia fading into the air... = Uncertainty ... right and wrong are cards that can be shuffled like a pile of money bills... = Corruption ... face the music of derision... = Criticism

What does the word "accouterments" refer to?

The objects that Justice owns

How was the justice system in the Philippines described?

A "mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law"

What is the major complaint about the justice system in the Philippines?

It is weak, corrupt and notoriously slow... Signup and view all the answers

How does the text describe the government officials who control the judiciary?

They become a threat to the nation. Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, what is the result of the judiciary serving the interests of politicians?

The judiciary, in effect, ceases to be the mechanism for checks and balances against the executive and legislative branches... Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of a corrupt government?

It means that he cannot be absolutely certain of a fair trial should his rights be violated by Malacañang or any other officials Signup and view all the answers

The World Economic Forum rated the Philippines well in terms of the justice system's reliability.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the main issue raised about the justice system in the Philippines?

Corruption Signup and view all the answers

What did Chief Justice Renato Corona fail to report?

$2.4 million in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN)?

To ensure that public officials do not accept bribes or are not prone to corruption Signup and view all the answers

Who was removed from their position for failing to declare a market stall in their SALN?

A court reporter named Perla Flores Signup and view all the answers

The impeachment of Renato Corona is considered a simple victory over corruption.

False Signup and view all the answers

What literary movement is the poem "Justice" representative of?

Marxism Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point of the Marxist literary theory?

Literature is a product of different hegemonies in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the line "... right and wrong are cards that can be shuffled like a pile of money bills..."?

It portrays corruption and the manipulation of justice. Signup and view all the answers

What does the line "... face the music of derision..." convey?

The Chief Justice is facing criticism for his actions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

21st Century Literature - Justice System

Objectives:
- Recognize the use of symbols and figurative language in poetry.
- Understand how the Philippine justice system works and its problems.
Philippine Justice System Issues:
- Described as a "mixed legal system" of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law.
- Judicial institutions are considered weak, corrupt, and slow, especially for the poor.
- The judiciary may be controlled by the president or the legislative branch, making it vulnerable to political influence.
- This weakens checks and balances on the executive and legislative branches, thus potentially causing unfair trials.
- The reliability of law enforcement agencies and policemen in the Philippines is ranked 123rd out of 140 countries.
- The Philippines is ranked 105th in terms of an independent judiciary.
- Corruption in the Supreme Court is noted with the Philippines ranked 95th out of 140 for this. Transparency International ranked it 111th out of 180 countries.
Impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona:
- Corona failed to report $2.4 million in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
- According to him, this was not an impeachable offense and protected by 1974 bank privacy law.
- He was impeached by the Philippine Senate, with 16 Senators voting for impeachment and 3 for acquittal.
- He did not declare 183 million pesos in his SALN. This is a public document required for all government officials.
- This event may be interpreted as a victory over corruption, but there are differing interpretations, with some seeing a political motive behind it.
- Concerns were raised about former Chief Justice Corona's actions and the broader issue of corruption.
Symbolic Representation (Poem Analysis):
- The poem's symbols represent elements of the Philippine Justice System.
- Blindfold signifies impartiality.
- Golden scales represent validity of evidence.
- Double-edged sword represents pro and con of evidence.
- Thoth's feather of truth represents truth, and possibly legal proof.
- Fading goddess of Justice represents weakening of the system.
- Cloudy as doubts represents uncertainty within the justice system.
- Right and wrong as shuffled cards represent the uncertainty of justice and fairness that is susceptible to manipulation.
Guide Questions:
- Questions presented about the poem and the Philippine Justice system. These are meant to give further insight into this complex matter.
Group Activity:
- Research and report on the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona, considering how this event affected the perception of the justice system.
- Analyze if this literary work reflecting the Philippine perspective of the country's justice system.
Assignment:
- Compose a reaction paper addressing what was learned from the lesson about justice in Philippine society.

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Description

Explore the intersection of literature and the Philippine justice system in this quiz. Understand the symbolic language in poetry while examining the challenges facing the judiciary, including political influence and corruption. Gain insights into how these issues impact fair trials and the rule of law.