Today, it is not surprising to hear broadcasters reporting news about deaths of alleged drug

users and pushers and police force reasoning out “self-defense” in these killings. In this current situation
of our country, unfortunately, laws seem to be disregarded and took no effect for the betterment of the
Philippines. The relevance of these laws amid these extrajudicial crimes and gruesome acts must be
reminded of to all Filipinos.

The Philippine Constitution, various codes and special laws, and executive and local ordinances
enforce thousands of rules and regulations regarding different matters concerning mankind. Our laws
cater our rights against any crime, protect us from any inequality, preserve justice and resolve conflicts.
Laws keep the Filipinos and the country itself in order despite these unlawful acts emerging in all areas
of the Philippines. Let’s have an example to show how laws still play big roles in our society. If someone
was kidnapped, the policemen will conduct an operation to save the kidnapped and bust the
kidnappers. The trial to hand down the verdict to the culprits will be taken in due process, which gives
those suspects a chance to defend themselves. The court will scrutinize the evidences and testimonies
presented and decide in accordance with the laws. Recently, though it can be called as “justice delayed”,
the bloody Maguindanao massacre suspects will be given their verdicts early next year. Indeed, laws still
have the power to fulfill its duty.

Some liberalists will disprove my arguments by stating that laws forbid us to exercise our free
will. One cannot explicitly do an act because the laws prohibited such deed but allow me take The Purge
film as an example to counter this mind set. People in the movie are allowed to commit crimes just for
one night annually. This gives anyone a chance to legally kill someone to take avenge, steal anything you
wish to have and even sexually abuse anyone you want to. Human’s rationality can often be clouded by
his/her emotions – waking up the monsters inside him/her and it is purely wrong to trust people’s minds
and consciences when most of the crimes are committed when feelings are heightened. Laws will be
able to control how people are going to exercise their independences without causing any harm to
others.

To sum it up, I’ll take Pope Benedict XVI’s quote, “When every man lives WITHOUT LAW, every
man lives WITHOUT FREEDOM.” Laws were made to protect ourselves and improve our society. Today is
the right time to correct our common mistake of assuming that laws RESTRICT our freedoms because
laws were implemented to REGULATE our freedoms.