OPINION
Ed Javier
Justice Under Fire
FILE
There are moments in public service when the job becomes more than the title, more than the press statements, more than the politics.
It becomes a fight for the very soul of governance, for the right of institutions to work without fear, favor, or interference.
That is where the Department of Justice finds itself today.
Under Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the DOJ has not always been popular.
He has been criticized for his stance on the International Criminal Court, for not pandering to popular sentiment on cases involving the Duterte administration, for the ABS-CBN franchise closure when he was still in Congress.
These are not minor controversies. They speak to deep divides in how justice is viewed in our society.
Yet through these, Remulla has moved forward with a clear sense of what he believes the law demands.
He is not perfect. He would likely admit that himself.
When faced with the hard question of whether to confront deep seated impunity, particularly in the disappearance of cockfighting aficionados, he chose not to look away.
Now, as expected, the counterattack has begun.
In recent weeks, a pattern has emerged. One familiar to those who observe the darker arts of politics. Smear campaigns. Social media attacks. Leaked “revelations.” Soft denial stories with sharp accusations.
The goal isn’t accountability. The goal is demolition.
When Remulla pursued the sabungero cases, a chilling saga involving the disappearance of dozens of individuals linked to e sabong, it would have been easy to classify them as low priority.
No celebrities, no rallies, no media hype. There were grieving families. Unanswered questions. As it turned out, moneyed links to criminality.
Remulla’s DOJ took on the case, filed charges, shook trees that others were afraid to even approach.
Predictably, those trees are now pushing back through a coordinated campaign designed to discredit not just Remulla, but the very idea that justice can apply to the powerful.
This isn't new. In this country, justice is often seen as optional when large interests are at stake. When institutions finally show resolve, they are punished for it.
The attack on Remulla is not about him alone. It is a warning to every official who might dare to take on difficult, thankless cases.
It is a message to the next justice secretary, the next ombudsman, the next fiscal: "Do not make enemies of people who can afford revenge."
Even the highest office is not immune to this kind of manipulation. The President may not see it yet, but those whispering in his ear are not always working in the interest of justice.
Some are driven by ambition, some by revenge, others by fear that Remulla’s independence could expose skeletons they thought long buried.
The real target may not even be the DOJ. It is the control over institutions, over outcomes, over impunity itself.
This is not the first time online gambling syndicates have tried to infiltrate the justice system. But rarely have they done so with such boldness and coordination.
These groups and their political proxies
are funding narratives, sponsoring attacks, and maneuvering to install their own.
This is sad, dangerous, and corrosive. One can only hope that President Marcos, Jr. is not being misled by these figures and takes a closer look at their backgrounds, interests, and histories.
If we allow that logic to win, if we remain silent while a Secretary is targeted for doing his job, then we accept a future where no reformer can stand, where every prosecutor must think twice, where law enforcement becomes theater.
The easier path would have been silence. It is always easier to look away. To say, “It’s not my problem.” Remulla did not. That should count for something, even to those who disagree with his past positions.
Because even when justice comes from someone we do not always agree with, it is still justice. Even when the messenger is flawed, the message can be right.
In politics, everything is framed as personal. This is not personal. This is institutional.
It is about whether the Department of Justice can still take risks, still pursue ugly truths, still file charges even if the accused are rich, connected, and dangerous.
In the end, this will not be settled on Twitter, or in backroom briefings. It will be settled by how the public and the system respond.
If we let the demolition succeed, we send a message: the moment you step on powerful toes, you are fair game.
If we speak up, even quietly, even through words like these, we help protect the space for officials who are trying to do what’s right.
Justice, when done right, does not come with applause. It comes with attacks. With resistance. With danger.
That is why it must be defended, not when it is convenient, but especially when it is under fire.
Sa ating bansa, kasi, kapag ang mayaman ang kinasuhan, hustisya agad ang nilalapastangan. Pero kapag mahirap ang biktima, tahimik ang lahat. Hustisya ba 'yan?
It becomes a fight for the very soul of governance, for the right of institutions to work without fear, favor, or interference.
That is where the Department of Justice finds itself today.
Under Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the DOJ has not always been popular.
He has been criticized for his stance on the International Criminal Court, for not pandering to popular sentiment on cases involving the Duterte administration, for the ABS-CBN franchise closure when he was still in Congress.
These are not minor controversies. They speak to deep divides in how justice is viewed in our society.
Yet through these, Remulla has moved forward with a clear sense of what he believes the law demands.
He is not perfect. He would likely admit that himself.
When faced with the hard question of whether to confront deep seated impunity, particularly in the disappearance of cockfighting aficionados, he chose not to look away.
Now, as expected, the counterattack has begun.
In recent weeks, a pattern has emerged. One familiar to those who observe the darker arts of politics. Smear campaigns. Social media attacks. Leaked “revelations.” Soft denial stories with sharp accusations.
The goal isn’t accountability. The goal is demolition.
When Remulla pursued the sabungero cases, a chilling saga involving the disappearance of dozens of individuals linked to e sabong, it would have been easy to classify them as low priority.
No celebrities, no rallies, no media hype. There were grieving families. Unanswered questions. As it turned out, moneyed links to criminality.
Remulla’s DOJ took on the case, filed charges, shook trees that others were afraid to even approach.
Predictably, those trees are now pushing back through a coordinated campaign designed to discredit not just Remulla, but the very idea that justice can apply to the powerful.
This isn't new. In this country, justice is often seen as optional when large interests are at stake. When institutions finally show resolve, they are punished for it.
The attack on Remulla is not about him alone. It is a warning to every official who might dare to take on difficult, thankless cases.
It is a message to the next justice secretary, the next ombudsman, the next fiscal: "Do not make enemies of people who can afford revenge."
Even the highest office is not immune to this kind of manipulation. The President may not see it yet, but those whispering in his ear are not always working in the interest of justice.
Some are driven by ambition, some by revenge, others by fear that Remulla’s independence could expose skeletons they thought long buried.
The real target may not even be the DOJ. It is the control over institutions, over outcomes, over impunity itself.
This is not the first time online gambling syndicates have tried to infiltrate the justice system. But rarely have they done so with such boldness and coordination.
These groups and their political proxies
are funding narratives, sponsoring attacks, and maneuvering to install their own.
This is sad, dangerous, and corrosive. One can only hope that President Marcos, Jr. is not being misled by these figures and takes a closer look at their backgrounds, interests, and histories.
If we allow that logic to win, if we remain silent while a Secretary is targeted for doing his job, then we accept a future where no reformer can stand, where every prosecutor must think twice, where law enforcement becomes theater.
The easier path would have been silence. It is always easier to look away. To say, “It’s not my problem.” Remulla did not. That should count for something, even to those who disagree with his past positions.
Because even when justice comes from someone we do not always agree with, it is still justice. Even when the messenger is flawed, the message can be right.
In politics, everything is framed as personal. This is not personal. This is institutional.
It is about whether the Department of Justice can still take risks, still pursue ugly truths, still file charges even if the accused are rich, connected, and dangerous.
In the end, this will not be settled on Twitter, or in backroom briefings. It will be settled by how the public and the system respond.
If we let the demolition succeed, we send a message: the moment you step on powerful toes, you are fair game.
If we speak up, even quietly, even through words like these, we help protect the space for officials who are trying to do what’s right.
Justice, when done right, does not come with applause. It comes with attacks. With resistance. With danger.
That is why it must be defended, not when it is convenient, but especially when it is under fire.
Sa ating bansa, kasi, kapag ang mayaman ang kinasuhan, hustisya agad ang nilalapastangan. Pero kapag mahirap ang biktima, tahimik ang lahat. Hustisya ba 'yan?
Jul 5, 2025
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