There are always two sides of a coin. In their coverage, the media make it a point to seek both sides of an issue to be able to present balanced news. When a complainant files a charge against someone in any court or public office, the one being sued will be summoned to defend himself. Recently, the integrity of the criminal justice in the Philippines is being put in question as the Supreme Court acquitted the suspects in the most prominent case in the 1990’s—the Vizconde massacre. The heinous crime took place in 1991 and the suspects were proven guilty in 1995. The case was reopened and after almost 20 years the defendants were exonerated. The news—for a night—was full of interviews of the two parties: the families of the freed murder suspects and Lauro, the head of the Vizconde family (and the only living member).

When the nation’s justices seem at loss and fail to solve a case, what’s an average citizen to do? Mr. Vizconde was left asking where he would seek justice after hearing the Supreme Court’s decision. Where indeed can he find justice? It’s not easy to formulate laws that will protect the rights and privileges of every citizen and that will provide apt and humane punishment for every crime committed. It’s the duty of each resident to abide within the laws of the land, may it be national or local. But where does one go if man’s law fails to exercise good judgment?

It’s easy to take sides in any incident. In this case, the father whose children and wife were brutally murdered is receiving much sympathy. But after almost two decades, the suspects were set free because some of the justices felt that the evidence against them was thin at best. Lots of questions were raised pertaining to the technicalities of the case. If the defendants are innocent, it certainly would be unfair that they were in jail for 15 years, let alone to have their lives ruined and names tainted.

In instances like this, who is the real victim? Who can be the rightful judge? How will the real perpetrators be found and pay for their crimes? If one can’t count on the effectiveness of the enforcement of man’s law, where can the victims go for justice? Would you give them the churchy line, “Turn to God?” Is there anything else for them to do? Yes. They can put the law in their own hands, but that’s called vengeance and is never justifiable. Hebrews 4:12-13 says that “the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”

It’s quite clear that God is aware of absolutely everything as nothing can be kept from Him, even the things to come. If this is the case, He knows who the evildoer is even if the law of the land fails to point it out. It’s written that each and every one of us, sinners and saints, will stand before God and He will judge us according to what we did all the days of our lives.

Though God is love, He is perfectly just. He serves justice where it is needed. He’s in control of everything. In heaven, there’s no need for a Court of Appeals, for we can rely on the fact that God is fair and perfect in judgment. The reality that evildoers will not be acquitted in heaven might not assuage the grief of victims, especially if it’s the very life of their loved one that was taken. But there will come a time when truth will prevail and justice will be served in God’s court. It’s a trial everyone will be put into and no one can escape.

—submitted by Julie Aldaba, Philippines