THE PHILIPPINES: A Mockery of Justice

Neatly dressed in gabardine slacks and lightweight lumber jacket, a battered copy of Reader’s Digest clutched in his hands, Prisoner Luis Taruc stood before the bar of justice in Manila last week. The man who had led the bloody, Communist Huk rebellion for eight years heard his sentence: twelve years in jail, a $10,000 fine. Taruc beamed, relatives happily pounded his back, bussed his cheeks. Then, with colossal effrontery, the rebel leader announced: “I can take anything for the sake of the peace of our country.”

Cried the Manila Evening News: “The minimum sentence is an insult and bitter fruit for those who have suffered at his hands. It cannot help but invite the suspicion that the government has made a deal with him.”

Ever since Taruc surrendered voluntarily and amicably to his emissaries last May, talk of a deal has persisted: the Philippine government seemed almost as anxious as Taruc to stop the costly bloodletting. Despite Taruc’s acknowledged involvement in killing, the government had not asked the death sentence, but it had plainly expected a lifetime jail sentence. “I am shocked,” said President Ramon Magsaysay. “For the No. 1 Communist of all to get such a light sentence is a mockery of justice.” Magsaysay forthwith ordered his legal aides to 1) appeal the light sentence, 2) press murder charges against Taruc.