Why Does The Justice System Work So Slow

[Mr Lee]

Why does it take so long to get justice in the Philippines?   :SugarwareZ-037:CEBU, Philippines - After 15 years, the Regional Trial Court has resolved a case for estafa in relation to the implementation of a road-widening project under the Metro Cebu Development Project (MCDP). The case stemmed from the widening of Kinasang-an, Pardo, wherein the property of the late couple Faustino Cabaluna and Alejandra Cabunilas was affected. A certain Filomena Nadela was authorized by the heirs of the couple, through a special power of attorney, to collect the money from the MCDP. The amount, P42,645, was compensation for the 22 square meters of land that was included in the road widening. But Nadela, “with deliberate intent and with intent to gain,” used the money for her personal benefit. She allegedly refused to give back the amount to the heirs even after repeated demands. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment. She said she spent the money for the documentation relating to the transaction, such as notarization. She also denied that it was she who acted with sole discretion on how the money was to be spent, saying the expenses were all based from verbal agreements with her aunts. However, the court still found her guilty “beyond reasonable doubt” and sentenced her two years, eleven months and eleven days as minimum, to 10 years as maximum. The court found inconsistencies in her testimony and that of her defense witnesses. She was also ordered to pay the heirs the exact amount she “defrauded” them, plus interests. “Clearly, the accused liable for the crime of estafa for misappropriating the money belonging to the offended parties… It was not her business to spend the money without the knowledge and consent of the offended parties,” according to the court decision.(FREEMAN NEWS)link to the actual story

[softail]

I have no idea why it takes so long for things to work there way thru the court system. My wife's niece had a book and stationary store in Los Banos Laguna next to the campus of the University of the Philippines, had a great business for 12 or 15 years or so. She owned the building and land which she bought from someone else, things were going well. After all this time someone came forward and contested ownership of the land, said it was there's. The police showed up, evicted her. Put her out of business, a sucessfull business that she had been running for many years. This has been over 6 yrs ago, the building sits empty, unused while the case languishes in the courts. Makes no sense.Doug and Sally