Peace and Reconciliation Philippines Project #16969

Reform the Philippine Judiciary with a Jury System

by Worldwide Philippine Jury Initiative Ltd

Project Report | Oct 21, 2015
Final Report

By Daisy Brett-Holt | Project Leader/Chairman

It is with regret that I have to deactivate our project to: Reform the Philippine Judiciary with a Jury System.

It is without doubt that we, as a group, have failed to raise funds for our project over the months despite previous reports proving that the organisation had been actively involved in the project. It was suggested that generally donors avoid giving to advocacies that involve politics in whatever way.

We have therefore decided to rephrase our project which is more in keeping with the initial stage to reform which is raising awareness of the Filipino people about the jury system. As this activity is done, we would likewise gather voters’ signatures from 234 Congressional Districts, on our petition to enact a “National Jury Law”.

Hence, the first two stages to reform the Filipino judicial system are: TEACHING and GATHERING OF SIGNATURES. When done, the third stage is to campaign to majority of the 56 million Filipino voters to approve the law in a NATIONAL REFERENDUM. I do not know whether donors will still find this part of our campaign highly political. Regrettably, we cannot ignore or cancel this stage of our project because it will lead to the closure or the attainment of our whole project.

Fortunately, the country’s Commission on Higher Education has endorsed (see attachment) the teaching of the jury system to state and private universities and colleges nationwide. The gathering of 7 million signatures is highly achievable since there are about 21 million registered voters in universities and colleges and only a third is required by the Commission on Election to call for a National Referendum.

On behalf of the members and advocates of a Jury System for Filipinos, I thank all our previous donors and call on the Global Giving donors to donate to our new project: “Teaching the Jury System to Filipinos”, so that the long suffering hard-working Filipinos can realize the true democracy that was denied to them by the omission of jury system in their constitution in 1902, over a hundred years ago.

Attachments:

Endorsement by Commission on Higher Education (PDF)

1 Attachment

Permalink

Jun 8, 2015
A Call to Our Leaders

By Daisy Brett-Holt | Chairman/ Project Leader

Baseco people invited to hear about Jury System

A Call to Our Leaders

The shift to the international school calendar of the Philippines to align with their foreign counterpart is a good move by the government. It will make the Philippine universities open to ASEAN and international students. It has, however, greatly affected WPJI’s timetable regarding its signature gathering targets. Admittedly, most of the signatures will come from university students who clamour for change and reform of the current systems. At any rate, on hindsight, the delay in the gathering of the 7M signatures will work to the advocacy’s advantage, which is, we have more time to gather support not just from the grassroots, the university students but more importantly from political leaders who has the Filipinos’ welfare at heart.

I have written a call to some such leaders who might consider endorsing and sponsoring the adoption of the jury system. This call is below…

“WPJIcalls on PGMA, the Binays and Senators_ Enrile, Estrada and Revilla to endorse and sponsor the implementation of the JURY SYSTEM for Filipinos AND LET THE PEOPLE BE THE JUDGE!

If they, our honourable leaders are truly innocent of the accusations levelled on them by the Aquino administration, then instead of being investigated by the Senate and tried by publicity, then let juries of ordinary Filipinos judge them fairly, justly and swiftly.

They will individually be secretly investigated for probable cause by a GRAND JURY of 23 ordinary, highly educated, Filipinos. Then if a “probable cause exists, then they will be tried by a TRIAL JURY of 12 ordinary Filipinos for guilt or innocence.

PGMA, who has languished on hospital arrest for years and soon to be transferred on house arrest would not spend more years in limbo if only she would dare work on the implementation of the Jury System advocated by WORLDWIDE PHILIPPINE JURY INITIATIVE. She could spend many more years on shameful, degrading house arrest compared to a few months or a year maybe two with complete freedom if she is not a flight risk, to defend herself and face her accusers.

The Senators accused of plundering, who luckily have not languished in hot, smelly jails, will face a Grand Jury and Trial Jury in just a few months before the forthcoming electionsor a few months after the election, IF WPJI, is lucky enough to get funding for its 7M signature gathering and wins the ensuing REFERENDUM, unopposed. The question is_ will they take the challenge of funding our signature campaign?

To Vice President Binay, whose popularity is quickly fading, instead of being tried by publicity, endorse and support our campaign for the implementation of a NATIONAL JURY LAW and be investigated and tried by jury of your equals. Are you ready to face the music?

To President Benigno Aquino III, the implementation of the National Jury Law, through your support and endorsement will be your legacy. LET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUR BOSSES HAVE TRUE DEMOCRACY! Empower them before you step down as the first president of the country who kept his promise to rid the government of corruption.

WPJI HOPES THAT THESE LEADERS WILL HEED OUR CALL FOR A RIGHTEOUS AND JUST PHILIPPINES.”

Yes, to Jury System for Filipinos

Filipinos Eager to Sign the Jury System Petition

Permalink

Mar 10, 2015
The Last Four Months

By Daisy Arcilla Brett-Holt | Chairman/Project Leader

1 2 3 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.