Well, what’s wrong with selective prosecution?

If 100 people are equally guilty of a crime and the justice system only prosecutes three of them (for one reason or another), is there anything wrong with this?

Would the prosecution of the other 97 criminals make the three less guilty?

If a highway patrol officer sees two speeding drivers on the freeway and manages to catch and arrest only one of them, is this unfair to the one who gets caught? He is still guilty, isn’t he?

Why did the Supreme Court deny President Aquino the Truth Commission while allowing President Gloria Arroyo to go after Joseph Estrada? Isn’t this inconsistent?

Here in the United States, the district attorney is constantly presented with cases that they can prosecute, but based on several factors (resources, strength of evidence, etc.), they only select a few to file charges against.

One lesson I have always taught my children is: “Life is not fair.” You have to do your best with the cards life has dealt you. Continuing to dwell about being treated unfairly is not productive. One must move on.

This is a familiar refrain from our fellow kababayan who are charged and prosecuted:

“Bakit ako lang? Hindi ba guilty rin ’yung iba?”

Ang sagot ko sa kanila, “Guilty naman kayo, ’di ba? Ano ang nirereklamo mo? Malas ka lang, pare ko.”

—ROBERT PANTANGCO,

Sta. Clara, California