The courts these crucial times

Closed-circuit television (CCTCV) camera is one electronic equipment that is most useful these days. More candid than any straightforward witness of a crime, the video capture of CCTV speaks nothing but truth, if viewed untouched or unedited. It is more reliable than any eyewitness if it could clearly convey the physical peculiarities of people appearing on screen, particularly the crime perpetrators, as well the detail of the captured incident.

Although the Philippine National Police touts unquestionable feat that boosts its image nowadays, the fact moans from the deep that there are crimes that remain unsolved, and police investigations hang in the balance. Each day that passes divulge news from across the archipelago of victims of crimes, largely slaying of victims. The perpetrators are oftentimes motorcycle riding in tandem. They abound and they execute their sinister craft without fear of revenge from man and God.

The escalation in the number of crimes involving loss of lives and properties is, of course, not to be blamed on the PNP, which has been religiously fulfilling its mission. The police officers, except the bad eggs in the organization, are fairly performing their duties in keeping the safety of the people where they are present. They effectively deter the occurrence of crimes by their mere presence. Such police visibility somehow keeps the predator at bay, although in isolated cases not at all.

Installing CCTV cameras in nooks and streets is becoming imperative among business entities. So do barangays, although not all as of yet. There churches, too, like the Sto. Niño Parish Church in Tacloban City that has CCTV cameras around the compound and in the rectory. Private schools, too, are taking this need to task for the security of everyone therein, if possible. There are government institutions that have also adopted this measure, but only few yet though especially among national government agency offices in the provinces. One of these government arms that need to be supplied this kind of security equipment are the trial courts.

Halls of Justice have to be provided by their national government the CCTVs to at least capture the minutest event taking place in these edifices. Courtrooms need to be guarded, too. If actual presence of security guards is not possible in all courtrooms during court sessions, at least having the CCTV cameras to record every single happening thereat is enough to make every person in the room feel guarded. Whether good or bad all the actors captured in the camera are kept in the CCTV memory and no can deny what appears thereon. This will help solve whatever crime happens in the Bulwagan and courtroom, including the under-the-table “deals”.

These crucial days where no one seems to be safe even in the confines of his inner sanctum, trial court judges and officers of the court, add to that court employees participating in court proceedings and the people in the gallery need to feel secure from the assault of just anybody. The CCTV could be a deterrent facility or at least serve the ends of justice to the victims, in case an inimical incident happens thereat. The courts are among the very places that should really be kept secured. With the interplay of emotions and clashes in principles, plus rumored “unlawful settlement” of cases, the CCTVs should be ready to capture the moments when they unfold.

By: Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros

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