Within 20 months, more than 30 judges were removed for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and related statutes. Three public opinion polls taken recently, one from the business community, have raised the rating of the judiciary by 30 to 40 percent since Chief Justice Davide took over. Similarly, changes can take place here. It's a matter of time. Unfortunately, people are afraid of speaking up.
Civil society is still in a climate of fear, but it has to change.
The developments in the Philippines illustrate what a former chief justice in India, Justice Verma, said in an interview when asked for his message for the youth on how to battle corruption. No matter which field you're in, don't try to reach the top by doing something wrong. Your past will catch up with you. What is sad is that other countries in the region that never had a good independent system of justice are now striving to improve, but Malaysia, which inherited a good system, has allowed it to deteriorate, and the competent authorities appear impervious to calls for reform. The government argues that the judiciary is, indeed, independent.