TAKING A DIVE

The phrase take a dive is slang used in Boxing, when a boxer loses a
prizefight purposely by pretending to get knocked out.

The way the expression has been used lately, it can mean any deliberate
losing by someone who is bound by duty or role to win a match, in sports or
any other contest.

The fighter sells out and betrays his cause.

In the local language, taking a dive is surambaw, favoring the other side
and eventually helping lose the game he is supposed to win. 'Whose side are
you on?' is what you ask a player who's taking a dive.

In the criminal justice system, when done by those working in the
Government, taking a dive is worse, for the breach of trust is against the
public, by officials or employees sworn to the 'sacred task' of protecting
public welfare and interest.

Consider the extent of deception and the shattering damage when:

* An ombudsman delays action on a case so that eventually a judge throws it
out, or intentionally commits a mistake that will cause its dismissal;

* Police officers connive to cut up the total volume of shabu confiscated
among the accused so that each will be spared incarceration without bail or
the penalty of death;

* A judge sits on the case for so long that vital witnesses are bribed or
tire and give up, or forces an interpretation of the law that will spring
the accused from jail;

* A warrant server tips off the subject of the court order so he can hide
or destroy evidence or flee before it can be served;

* A veteran cop uses his skill of sleuthing to look for witnesses for the
prosecution and buy them out or threaten them against testifying his
'client';

* Crime scene investigators willfully mess up the evidence or violate
rights of the accused or testify subtly for the defense or not show up at
the hearings;

* A prosecutor advises lawyer for the accused on how to beat the rap, or
himself gets a tip on how to throw the case.

The list is long, the ways of taking a dive innumerable. Those familiar with
local events will recognize the examples in our list; they are not fiction
or theory, they actually happened.

Why do they take a dive? The same reason why anyone sells out. Usually
money, the great corrupter. Or favor to a patron, relative or friend.

Whatever the cause, taking a dive is high crime, made more grievous by the
breach of public trust and the devastating damage on the justice processes.

Unless taking a dive is made more risky by swift and huge punishment, it
continues to be profitable, maybe even a lark, to those who do it.