Philippine Law - is it criminal or civil

[Sangoma]

After I first joined this forum a couple of weeks ago and browsing through some older threads, I was shocked to discover the case of David Scott, learning that adultery was a crime rather than a civil matter. Although not particularly promiscuous myself, it is still very worrying that you could be jailed for such an act for a longer period (7 years) than you might be jailed in the UK for robbery!

Now I see that yesterday a newspaper proprietor and editor-in-chief (Daily Tribune) has been jailed for between 6 months and two years for an item in her paper that was deemed to be libel. In addition to that she was fined P5 million. As the proprietor, she almost certainly did not actually pen the story. Presumably, a case for damages will now follow by the victim.

Regardless of the merits of the case, I find it unbelievable to learn that a country which claims to be free and democratic, and has a constitution modelled on the US system, criminalises matters which in any decent society should be a matter for civil courts.

Well that's two types of offence in two weeks. Maybe you could enlighten me on just how many OTHER matters that we Brits assume are civil matters are in fact criminal cases.

I think making adultery a criminal offence is an excellent idea. Good for them.

If people were "decent" they wouldn't commit adultery, by doing so they make it so that the society isn't decent, so I would say thay have more of a decent society.

Adultery is as forbidden as stealing and murder, it is against one of the ten commandments.

[joroco]

Matters such as adultery are the business of individuals, however repugnant they may seem to others. Such laws are a production of a nanny-state, whereby the Government takes complete control of the lives of the individual. Keith Angel claimed they were showing the "moral high ground". One only has to note the hundreds of people kidnapped in recent years by the army for their political beliefs, or the 23 activists murdered in Manila during the local elections campaign last year or indeed the never-ending news of corruption in Government and business to appreciate that whatever the motives of law makers there is precious little morality among the political or industrial luminaries of this country.

[Piamed]

Just noticed this thread and would make the point that if you travel in the far east or closer to home and are caught trafficking you may face stiff penalties up to and including death ,this is widely known and publicised I have never however seen this warning about adultery on any tourist site or Filipino embassy site and in my view this is the problem.

All countries are free to have whatever laws they like (as long as it doesn't interfere with oil)but they should be proud enough to publicly shout there "Moral high ground " position so that it is clear to us and we can then not get inadvertently put in the position of breaking them through ignorance or become victims of a shakedown.

I agree completely!

I think making adultery a criminal offence is an excellent idea. Good for them.

If people were "decent" they wouldn't commit adultery, by doing so they make it so that the society isn't decent, so I would say thay have more of a decent society.

Adultery is as forbidden as stealing and murder, it is against one of the ten commandments.

Precisely! If people don't have a faith, they still usually abide by some form of moral code which invariably stands against immorality. People sometimes make excuses to suit their own perceptions and purposes.

Matters such as adultery are the business of individuals, however repugnant they may seem to others. Such laws are a production of a nanny-state, whereby the Government takes complete control of the lives of the individual. Keith Angel claimed they were showing the "moral high ground". One only has to note the hundreds of people kidnapped in recent years by the army for their political beliefs, or the 23 activists murdered in Manila during the local elections campaign last year or indeed the never-ending news of corruption in Government and business to appreciate that whatever the motives of law makers there is precious little morality among the political or industrial luminaries of this country.

Anything that affects enough individuals ultimately affects a society. A society is made up of individuals who collectively have appointed a Government and a voice often expressed in law. Do you need need further evidence of how adultery and infidelity has affected our society? There was a documentary a year or so ago about parental discrepancy. It is estimated that over 1,000,000 men in the US are raising kids they think are theirs by blood but are in fact not. What are your thoughts about what should be done about that?

How many people have been abused because of their race, colour, accent and creed in the West this year? Are you suggesting that there is not never-ending news of corruption in our own Government here, and in business here? What are your comparative measures of morality and how have you arrived at your benchmarks?

Every country has issues. I don't think its appropriate to suggest that any one country is better than any other overall. Every country, society, culture etc. has its own appeal to various individuals.

This is just my view!

[keithAngel]

I agree completely!



Precisely! If people don't have a faith, they still usually abide by some form of moral code which invariably stands against immorality. People sometimes make excuses to suit their own perceptions and purposes.



Anything that affects enough individuals ultimately affects a society. A society is made up of individuals who collectively have appointed a Government and a voice often expressed in law. Do you need need further evidence of how adultery and infidelity has affected our society? There was a documentary a year or so ago about parental discrepancy. It is estimated that over 1,000,000 men in the US are raising kids they think are theirs by blood but are in fact not. What are your thoughts about what should be done about that?

How many people have been abused because of their race, colour, accent and creed in the West this year? Are you suggesting that there is not never-ending news of corruption in our own Government here, and in business here? What are your comparative measures of morality and how have you arrived at your benchmarks?

Every country has issues. I don't think its appropriate to suggest that any one country is better than any other overall. Every country, society, culture etc. has its own appeal to various individuals.

This is just my view!

I would say that the logical extension of that view would be to pass a law criminalising desertion or seperation after all that would ensure that individuals would not
affect the clear wishes of the majority who elected there government.

Plus imprison all those who bear false witness in there annulment cases I hope you can see where this is going.

Governments should be about empowering there citizens to as far as possible to decide for themselves what there lives are about and not about control insofar as individual acts of concience go.

With out this there is no freedom of Religeon Or Belief thats the point of free will to choose our own standards

The whole of the law is "do as thou wilt and it harm none"

[keithAngel]

Matters such as adultery are the business of individuals, however repugnant they may seem to others. Such laws are a production of a nanny-state, whereby the Government takes complete control of the lives of the individual. Keith Angel claimed they were showing the "moral high ground". One only has to note the hundreds of people kidnapped in recent years by the army for their political beliefs, or the 23 activists murdered in Manila during the local elections campaign last year or indeed the never-ending news of corruption in Government and business to appreciate that whatever the motives of law makers there is precious little morality among the political or industrial luminaries of this country.

I believe you have misapprehended me Joroco I said no such thing I said "they should be proud enough to publicly shout there "Moral high ground " position so that it is clear to us"

Where the state enters into dual standards there is no morality and my intention here is irony

This could include warnings on every Philippines tourist website , posters at the airport complete with pictures of the accommodations being offered.Hotel lobbies ect

Perhaps Sangoma could cast the first stone at Adulteress of the week reality shows sure to be popular

[misscarie]

[QUOTE=Sangoma;71035] it is against one of the ten commandments.[QUOTE]