AN ABSURD RIGHT TO PLAGIARIZE!

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 15, 2010 FILIPINOS ARE LICENSED TO PLAGIARIZE!

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20101021-298952/License-to-plagiarize

This is a “right” not bestowed anywhere else in the world. And it is like a slap in the face to all Filipino writers. A mediocre way of telling Filipinos is stupid not to be able to put our own thoughts in our own words.

Plagiarism is not a CRIME but is disapproved more in the grounds of MORAL offense. Although it is not mentioned in any current statute of law, either criminal or civil, in academia it is considered as an academic dishonesty or academic fraud and is subject to academic reproach. In journalism, plagiarism is considered a breach of journalistic ethics and could face disciplinary measure like suspension to termination of employment. In short, we are simply asked: if you did not write it yourself then please do give some credit to the ORIGINAL AUTHOR!!!

Then how come, when an ASSOCIATE JUSTICE committed this “cheating at its best”, fellow colleague in the Justice department choose to absolve this ASSOCIATE JUSTICE simply because there was NO MALICIOUS INTENT? When in fact this ASSOCIATE JUSTICE blatantly lifted 22 distinct passages from foreign sources without even giving credits to its original maker! And you call yourselves “JUSTICES”? And what’s with the ASSOCIATE JUSTICES’ lame excuse that his computer was not equipped with software that would warn him that he was actually plagiarizing. Sorry, but I haven’t heard of that software (techies help me on this!) but shouldn’t he as a professional, who finished a degree in law or whatever that qualified him to be an ASSOCIATE JUSTICE of the Supreme Court should be aware of what he was doing? He is the one researching! He (or his assistant whomever) was merely tapping some keys, commanding the computer! He was the one with the mind that is actually working and yet blames it on the programmable device!

Ignorantia juris non excusat - “ignorance of the law excuses no one”

In fact he is not ignorant! he simply excused himself!

I can’t state facts here since I am not a licensed person of the law. I am merely someone, who has the passion for writing, concern on what this incompetent decision would bring to the writers league and most especially to students like me who has been required to submit reaction papers, case studies, theses and the likes since education was probably established. I really find this verdict absurd because I know for a fact that in law school plagiarism is highly discouraged and is considered as an ethical violation. So now I’m starting to wonder where this ASSOCIATE JUSTICE got his law degree. Certainly I won’t be enrolling there when I decided to get my own law degree.