An unstable legal system affects even the hinterlands like the Cordillera. What big company will invest big money to extract whatever minerals we have or energy generating resources like geothermal gas? These ventures entail big amounts and those who are willing to shell out such, whether local or foreign, would look for assurance that the rules of the game will not be changed mid-river.
This is the secret of stable economies like the United States. That’s why there are many venture capitalists there, especially in Utah. They have big amounts in their portfolio waiting to be invested for bright inventions or ideas which are perceived to make huge profits in the future. These investors were the ones who made billionaires out of the college dropouts of Harvard who ended up becoming the richest men on earth—Bill Gates of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Jobs of Apple, and many younger others who are coming up with various APPs every minute.
How secure are the big investments they shell out? Very safe as there are contracts to be signed and you can rely on these. Any breach of an agreement can be easily brought to court and it will not take several .decades for it to be decided. Once court trial is started, a decision would be forthcoming in a matter of weeks and the person who broke the agreement would be held liable.
In the Philippines, there is always a last defense which is delay. If you can keep the case rolling for two decades, a victory would most likely be a paper victory, as the winner would have lost more than what he had won.
At the topmost in our legal system, the instability started way back when then Chief Justice Fernando was maintained in his position by then President Marcos by extending the retirement age of those in the judiciary to 70. It used to be 65 but then Marcos at that time needed someone to protect him and his interests through court decisions.
During the time of PGMA, she thought she achieved the same objective through the midnight appointment of Chief Justice Corona who was later impeached during the Aquino administration.
Then PNOY appointed CJ Sereno for the same purpose by making the Judicial and Bar Council look the other way as to the requirements for the appointment.
But aside from these, our judicial system had always been generalized as unstable because of many corrupt judges and justices, particularly in Metro Manila.**