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.
